Thanks to Berkley for an advanced copy of The Bump by Sidney Karger. 
In The Bump, Wyatt and Biz are expecting their first baby via surrogate and decide to take a babymoon road trip from Brooklyn to California to be the for the baby's birth. They've both dreamed of being parents and now that it's almost time they are freaking out and hoping this road trip will help them reconnect before the baby...

This has such a fun premise and I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, I found the lack of communication really hard to overcome in this book. I liked the travel fun and seeing the differences in their families, but I really struggled to see these two as a couple.

Wyatt and Biz are complete opposites, but despite their different personalities, they are in love with each other and committed to their relationship. They are about to have a baby via surrogate and although they’ve dreamed of being parents, the reality of that time coming is freaking them out. They decide to take a “babymoon” road trip from NYC to California for the birth, giving them some much needed time together to work out some of the challenges they’ve been having in their relationship. Along the way they also each realize they need to confront some of their old wounds and traumas and address some secrets they’ve been keeping.

Wyatt and Biz’s journey was one full of heart and very often humor. The series of unfortunate twists they faced on their road trip led to some hilarious moments which added some light and humor to what was at its heart an emotional journey of healing. Both Wyatt and Biz had some tough things to work through, and at times, it didn’t seem like they would be able to work through those challenges without their relationship suffering even more. With all of their struggles, I was rooting for this couple the entire book and the ending really warmed my heart. The book is one to definitely add to your summer reading list!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

Wyatt and Biz have wanted to be father's forever, but with their marriage on the rocks and a baby on the way, they're starting to realize maybe what that's not what they wanted after all. With their baby's impending arrival in the next few weeks, Wyatt and Biz decided to go on a cross-country trip for their 'babymoon', and what a disaster it is! Their trip is nothing but misadventure after misadventure, and felt like it might be the straw that broke the camels back... Thankfully things work out in the end for these two, but it was work!

Honestly, the story was fine... For most of the book I didn't feel like Wyatt and Biz's relationship was worth saving, but was glad things did work out in the end.

This is a story about finding your best version of family.  From the first time they met, Wyatt Wallace and Biz Petterelli were drawn to one another.  Although they could not be more different in terms of temperaments and family backgrounds, their relationship has always been rock solid — not least of all because they've both wanted the same things out of life.  Now, they are on the verge of having a baby together, something they've both always hoped for.  

But now that they are facing the reality of being parents, they find their relationship more strained than ever before.  Wyatt and Biz are each freaking out in their own way, even though they are reluctant to share their feelings with the other.  They had planned to fly out to California a few weeks before their child's due date to be near their surrogate and to ensure they did not miss the birth.  But Biz has a different (better?) idea: the two should take a cross-country babymoon, visiting some of their favorite spots for one last hurrah before becoming parents.  

The trip, though, does not go exactly as planned.  As emergencies and other unexpected developments lead them off track, they are forced to confront issues with their own and each other's families, and both long-held and recent secrets that could reshape their lives forever.  Are these just bumps in the road to the life they have always dreamed of, or will Wyatt and Biz need to rethink their future?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!  I was a huge fan of the author's previous novel, Best Men, so I was excited to dive into this one — and it exceeded my high expectations.  The author excels at blending comedy, tugging on your heartstrings, and insights into navigating the pressures, and absurdities, of modern life.  Told in Wyatt and Biz's alternating perspectives, I found myself empathizing with both of them, even as I could appreciate the frustration each felt at the other's choices and communication (or lack thereof).  I particularly appreciated the juxtapositions of Wyatt and Biz's respective childhoods and resulting family dynamics and the ways that shapes both how they approach their own relationship and their fears about impending fatherhood.  

Very highly recommended!

The Bump 🤰🐶👨‍❤️‍👨
by Sidney Karger
Thank you @berkleypub for my advance copy!
Pub date 5/21/2024
🎉 Out tomorrow

Excuse me while I just gush over this sweet hug of a book. Wyatt Wallace and Massimo (Biz) Petterelli are partners expecting their first baby via their surrogate, Flora. Before the big date they embark on a babymoon road trip that doesn’t go as planned. Family longings tug and a few detours happen along the way. The book is endearing and flawlessly shows how humanly flawed people and their delicate relationships can be.

I enjoyed their literal and emotional journey, and can’t recommend this more highly 🩷 Fans of Steven Rowley will adore the sweet humor and heartfelt moments. Don’t let this one pass by without a read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and 👍🏻👍🏻

Couldn’t put this book down! The characters were so interesting, funny, and had depth, the writing was addictive, and I just wanted to live in this world.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for my complimentary eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Bump was a very cute read; I read it in an afternoon. I needed to know how Biz and Gio’s journey ended. I am happy to say it was worth the afternoon on the couch !

As we say in preschool “everyone’s family is different, some families have a mom and dad and kids. Some have a mom and kids. Some have a dad and kids” (you get the picture)
And some families are 2 dads who desperately want kids of their own. The Bump is Biz, Gio (and Flora’s) story of how they made it happen.

The Bump will make you laugh, cry and rethink
your own family dynamics.

This was good, if a bit over the top for me. It was campy in a way that just doesn't appeal to me because it didn't really feel authentic and I could never get behind the characters 100% even though I did find many parts amusing.

What I really did appreciate was the topic. Road trip? Been done. Two men on a save the relationship road trip to reconnect before their baby is delivered? I haven't seen that before. If it had been slightly less over-the-top and I'd found the characters more relatable, I would have absolutely loved it.

As it was clearly intended to be a humorous and somewhat campy road trip, the situations and characters encountered, including Wyatt and Biz's family members and friends, were all over the top to the point that they felt like stereotypes. But then sometimes they would break through the stereotype and feel more real, and that I did enjoy.

It was told in alternating POV style, but for some reason whenever we were in Wyatt's POV and Biz said something, the dialogue tag would be Wyatt saying how Biz felt about it. The same happened in Biz's POV when Wyatt spoke. It was really strange and kept taking me out of the story because it didn't make sense for the characters to know what the other person was thinking, so maybe it was all assumptions? But it happened just about every time anything was said.

Wyatt and Biz also argued and were resentful and childish toward one another for the entire book. I was hoping they'd work things out, and a couple times thought they might, and then they'd revert to sniping at each other. It didn't give me a whole lot of confidence about their ability to handle actually raising a child together. The way it's told it's as if seeing the baby delivered magically fixes everything, cue the adorable 6 years later epilogue.

I liked it enough to continue to read the whole book, however, and I think it will appeal to a lot of people. Especially those who enjoy campy over the top humor.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an early copy for review.

The Bump is a story of two men who are complete opposites going on a cross country roadtrip "babymoon" leading up to the birth of their first child. This story had some hilarious moments on the road - lots of things didn't go to plan, family emergencies popped up, and long buried family secrets were uncovered. But underneath it all were two men who were anxious about being first time parents but didn't know how to express that to their partner. Sometimes I wanted to shake them and beg them to talk to their partner, but they got there in the end. This was funny and heartfelt, and I really enjoyed it!

TW: parent cancer diagnosis

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for giving me this advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

"The Bump" by Sidney Karger invites readers on a delightful “journey” through the highs and lows of Wyatt and Biz's relationship as they prepare for the next chapter of their lives. With witty humor and heartfelt moments, Karger captures the essence of the couple's dynamic: Wyatt's meticulous planning contrasting with Biz's spontaneous nature. The road trip/“journey” before their new adventure serves as a backdrop for their growth as individuals and as a couple, with mishaps along the way adding to the hilarity. Through the ups and downs, Karger beautifully illustrates the importance of communication and relying on one's partner. "The Bump" is a heartwarming and entertaining read that resonates with anyone who has experienced the joys and challenges of life's unexpected “journeys”, whether it involves furry companions, nurturing plants, or any other form of shared responsibility and love.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group, NetGalley, and Sidney Karger for this eARC.

Sidney Karger’s latest novel, The Bump, is a charming and hilarious novel following two men expecting a baby via surrogate as they take the road trip of a life time.

Some books are just simply fun and filled with heart, and The Bump is that type of book! Balancing emotional and heartfelt moments with laugh-out-loud ones, I can’t imagine reading this without a smile on my face and warmth radiating through my heart!

Wyatt Wallace is as serious and structured as his partner Massimo “Biz” Petterelli is breezy and creative. The couple is trying to have a baby and the story follows their voyage-to-parenthood that is full of highs, lows, and everything in between. As anyone who has had a baby knows, the journey getting there is never the one you expected!

Biz and Wyatt are using a surrogate, and unfortunately she lives across the country from the couple. Free-spirited, former child-actor Biz has the brilliant idea to take a road trip to California rather than flying there for the birth. This could be their last chance for wild, fun, and free hijinks for a while. They also hope to spend time together and heal some of the bumps in their relationship as of late. They hope to bring a baby into their family in the best place they can be.

Of course, in the same way the journey to parenthood never goes as planned, neither does their road trip. Despite having everything mapped out before they go, unexpected detours and unplanned incidents cause secrets and long-buried hurt to bubble up to the surface. There’s nothing to put pressure on a strained relationship quite like a cross-country road trip with just you, your partner, and your dog!

Watching Biz and Wyatt confront things in their relationship that they have tried to push aside or gloss over was emotional and lovely and hard all at once. These are the kind of conversations that need to happen before being parents, but they aren’t easy and things get worse before they get better sometimes. I kept wondering if they would even make it to California for the birth! Let’s just say the title is fitting—lots of bumps along the way to parenthood for this couple, but love can overcome many challenges!

This book absolutely charmed me. The central couple are fantastic and the characters are so different but I loved them together. Their journey was full of funny and hard and touching moments. I love these types of books because I know that somehow I’m going to get a great ending, so I can just enjoy the ride.

This is a must-read for anyone who loves a novel that is equal parts funny and heartfelt!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.

Wyatt and Biz both fear they might not make it through this hurdle. On the brink of parenthood, Biz convinces Wyatt to a "babymoon" - a trip designed to hit all of their favorite gay vacation spots.
I loved the focus on the use of surrogacy - the grief of NOT experiencing all those joys parents take for granted, such as baby kicks and hiccups; playing music and talking; dr appts and ultrasounds.
This trip becomes more of a healing and rejoining of Wyatt and Biz. Wyatt's brother is in an accident - his mother desperate for emotional support. Their complex relationship and Biz's work to ease the tension are so relatable. Desperate to feel the support and joy of his own family, Biz pushes for time with his family.
The discovery of family secrets, lost connections - and meeting their child, truly a bumpy ride.
I love these characters!

REVIEW: The Bump ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 (4.5)

Wyatt and Biz have been together for over ten years. They decide they are ready for the next step and want a baby. After much planning, they have a surrogate in California who will be having their child soon. Instead of just flying there for the birth, the guys decide to make a babymoon road trip out of it. Everything is planned and ready until it isn't.

The Bump was a perfect heartfelt, sweet, and funny story. In a dual POV, we learn through our main characters, Wyatt and Biz, how they are both feeling about becoming dads soon. Even though they have been together for so long, they have their troubles together. They disagree about marriage, they are nervous about truly communicating together, and they are both secretly fearful of becoming bad dads. I really like a switch-up with a romance of sometimes having an established couple like them who have some rocky moments to go through. Their relationship felt very authentic, and you could tell that deep down, they both really loved each other. Wyatt and Biz were definitely different from one another, but they both brought so much heart and laughter to this book.

I really love the different family dynamics and struggles throughout The Bump. There was a great deal of variety and representation as well. I really loved that this book presented surrogacy and gay adoption in such a positive light.

The only tiny thing I didn’t like about this story is the fact that there was a point when too much was going on at the same time. I get this is supposed to be stressful and chaotic, but sometimes it can feel too overwhelming.

Overall, I really loved The Bump. It was a great contemporary romance with so much love and fun throughout. I can’t wait to read Sidney Karger’s other novel, Best Men.

Thank you, Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

#bookreview #bookrecommendations #arcread #bookstagram #books #booklover #bookish #bookaddict #romancereader #booksofinstagram #bookaholic #romancereadersofinstagram #bookcommunity #igreads #readingbooks

“The Bump” is a heartwarming story about Wyatt Wallace and Massimo “Biz” Petterelli’s journey to become parents. These two had me laughing out loud in Chapter One during their egg donor selection and I was immediately invested in the process. Fast forward a year and a half, and they are ready to take a road trip across the country to meet their surrogate before the birth of their baby.

Wyatt has the route from New York to California meticulously planned out and Biz is excited for the babymoon that he sees as their last hurrah to have fun before they become fathers. Their different approaches to this trip highlight the stress that has been building as they prepare for this new phase of life.

There are some unexpected detours along the way and more of their background is revealed as both Wyatt and Biz make stops to visit their families. At times it feels like they want different things out of their relationship while also feeling hopeful for the future. Wyatt and Biz belong together. They balance each other out in the best way with a little help from their adorable dog, Matilda.

The author does an amazing job of exploring the complexities of relationships and the work that goes into them. The fear that Wyatt and Biz have about becoming parents is so relatable and the surrogacy adds another layer that we don’t often see in books. I really enjoyed this one and look forward to more from this author.

Wyatt and Biz set-off, cross-country to meet their new baby. Misadventure plagues the trip from New York to California as family causes havoc on their well laid plans. These two keep puns rolling throughout their trip from movies, TV and music which had me laughing. The forced proximity in the car forces these men to address issues over their 10-year relationship including impending fatherhood.

The bump is simply fun and filled with heartfelt moments. This "journey" is a ride of a lifetime.

Thank you, Berkley

More than being a finding their way back to each other book, this felt like an exercise in misery that would not end until a time jump at the end of the book. It took me a good deal of convincing myself that any of the characters in this book liked each other, much less our two fathers to be. I think maybe if I hadn't expected a little more romcom it might gain a Star but this was just tough to get through.

I enjoyed Best Men but I LOVED “The Bump” it was just the easy light hearted story I needed and devoured in in 1 day. It reminding me of “The Guncle” in all the best ways but the writing style kept the story moving in a faster pace which I enjoyed and could get into much earlier in the book.

The characters were all lovable and relatable even in all of their flaws. They were opposites yet also so similar at the same time.

I didn’t find any of the adventures to be unnecessary or take up too much time. The driving portions served their purpose and didn’t drag on and he focused on the important parts that kept things moving. Their disagreements were all realistic as they weren’t simply solved in one discussion and buttoned up with happy ending right away.

The love between both families and their growth warmed my heart. I am looking forward to his next book.

Biz and Wyatt are having a baby! After picking a donor and a surrogate, their baby is finally almost here. As a babymoon they had on a cross-country road trip to California as a last hurrah. While everything leading up to the pregnancy has gone well, Biz and Wyatt feel further apart than ever. As doubts about fatherhood and raising a child start stirring, both soon to be dads are forced to examine their relationships with their fathers, each other, and themselves. Nowhere better to sort through your problems than by being forced to ride in a small car together from one coast to the other.

Being currently 22 weeks pregnant, I felt this was the perfect time to pick up Karger's new book. Though my 'journey' is different than our leads, there are so many emotions, feelings, and thoughts that present themselves when you're expecting a baby. So, while I couldn't relate to the surrogacy 'journey' as a whole, the overall anticipation, fears, and anxieties were pretty on the nose this go ahead.

Both Biz and Wyatt are such interesting characters and completely opposite; I kept finding myself offering them parenting advice in my head. The contrast between our two leads was great and while I normally hate the miscommunication trope, I mean seriously just talk to each other, I didn't mind it so much in this story. I mean I still wanted them, especially Wyatt to just open up and loosen up, but overall, I think it worked for this story.

In essence this was a cute and heartwarming read filled with hope and antics. Our supporting characters were great, and I was rooting for Biz and Wyatt the whole time. This will certainly make a great road trip read or listen (as I hear the audio is great) and is coming out at the perfect time.



The Bump comes out May 21, 2024. Thank you to Berkley for my advanced copies in exchange for my review. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.

Review of The Bump by Sidney Karger

The Bump is the story of one couple’s babymoon road trip across the country. It lives up to its name, not only in terms of a baby bump but also in terms of navigating some unresolved/unspoken bumps in their relationship.

The couple is on the brink of a significant life change with the impending arrival of their first child. This journey becomes a metaphor for the unspoken tensions and unresolved issues in their relationship.

I enjoyed this novel; however, I had to readjust my expectations. Having read Karger’s first book, The Best Men, I entered this novel expecting a rom-com. It is definitely not a rom-com. While full of love, it is also full of tension as the couple works through unexpected hiccups. While I didn’t relate to the affluent couple’s lifestyle of adventures and privilege, it is relatable regarding how relationships are complicated and evolving.

This is not a warm, fluffy read, nor all doom and gloom. Buckle up for an adventure.

This book definitely wasn’t for me, but I can see how some would like a book like this as a “palette cleanser” or something of the sort..
I didn’t like how the couple was constantly fighting and seemed like they would’ve maybe been better of breaking up, and also really didn’t like the whole “a baby solved our entire relationship” thing.
It was cute at times, and a relatively quick read, so I guess there’s that.