Cover Image: Belly Up

Belly Up

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Member Reviews

I ADORED this book. Serendipity (Sera for short) is a normal teenager, living her normal teenage life with her single mom and best friend Devi. She recently broke up with her boyfriend, but is moving on and goes to a party with Devi where she meets a totally handsome stranger. They hook up and it's nice, but Sera forgets to get his number, which wouldn't be a big deal, but a few weeks later she finds out she's pregnant. This book is FULL of body positivity,  it is inclusive and sex positive. It portrays the real reactions and emotions of people making real life decisions. I think the author did an amazing job all around here. Other reviewers have called this Juno meets Gilmore Girls, and I love that comp!

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I really enjoyed this book, but I have some mixed feelings about it. Overall, my reading experience was fantastic. I flew through this book and I had such a fun time reading it. It was compelling and entertaining. However, there were aspects of this book that seemed unrealistic. One of the main complaints that I've seen in negative reviews of this book was the vocabulary. The main character said things like "amazeballs"... which was a little much. But I got used to it, so I think if you know what to expect, that won't be an issue. This was such a cute contemporary and I would recommend it for anyone who wants a book on the topic of teen pregnancy that still manages to mostly be light and and easy to read.

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SPOILERS AHEAD

Belly Up is a contemporary YA novel that delves into the topic of teen pregnancy with a comedic twist. It is a novel by Eva Darrows, the pseudonym for bestselling writer Hillary Monahan. The book is one of many multi-genres that she writes with everything from horror to, in this case, comedy.

The beginning is written plain enough but with a humor in it that is genuinely witty. The way the book addresses the reader directly isn't something many are accustomed to at first. With that in mind, it quickly becomes clear that it was the perfect way for the story to be told.

Sara, or Serendipity, the main character, is a character that you love to love. She has a distinctive voice to go along with her opinions and thoughts - these driving the story forward. She is such a funny narrator. Every word she speaks draws a smile from the reader. It makes for laughter and a tone that is relatable for anyone.

The reader can really feel themselves in the place of the main character. This is true even if the circumstances are unconventional. They still manage to resonate with the individual. You can see the character's struggles as she comes to terms with an accident resulting from her choices. The way the narrator can go from relatively self-assured and witty to vulnerable in seconds is a nod to the great writing style.

The narrator has a grace about her that allows her to walk from the sad to the humorous without it feeling forced or rushed. Sara has a strong sense of herself and what she believes. With a unique perspective and humor about life, she is such a nice change from the angst driven MC's of other novels. It's such a refreshing thing to see Sara look back on her past decisions with an acceptance of the "mistakes" made and still find herself through them.

Sara is written so as to feel like a real teenager. And teens can be notoriously hard to write for anyone but these ones were done well. It didn't read like someone out of touch with young people trying to force them onto the page. I enjoyed the way the teen pregnancy was approached with the appropriate amount of concerns but also a sense of real life wit. The cruelty and shaming faced but the main character is something that makes the reader feel for her, which I would argue is the point of storytelling.

The generational relationships ground the story. They are dynamic and craft something that would truly lessen the narrative if they was taken away. It breathes life into the book so that you can see how these strong women are finding themselves and relating to each other. Eva Darrows demonstrates the growing connection between Sara and her "kid" in a way that is the heart of the story.

Devi, the best friend of Sara, as a character could have been flat and one-dimensional but is instead one who is a valuable addition to the narrative. Devi and Sara are such a great duo with their shared language and comradery. Their relationship is such a joy to see evolve and grow.

The story itself is lighthearted and fun while still not becoming too silly or dumbed down. It is different than what is expected of a typical teen pregnancy story. Characters are endearing and lively. The conflicts propel it forward to keep readers entertained and engaged.

The diversity of the book and its characters is so encouraging and allows anyone to find someone they can see themselves in. Everything from Romani to asexual representation is present. It is a fact that for some may be the first time they've seen them in literature. Commentary on issues that impact minority groups and diverse individuals truly add a level of social reflection.

I went into the story with minimal expectations but was proven wrong by the book and author in the best way. Being glued to the page is commonplace when reading it as most are unable to separate themselves from the words on the page. The story is a delicate mixture of funny and heartwarming in its simple but strong telling. A perfect ending was delivered as wholesome and cathartic. Most of all it was full of a promise of the future for Sara and all those around her.

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Title provided via netgalley for an honest review

I really like books that touch on subjects that have a stigma attached. Darrows does a really good job detailing everyday life. It is a fact that teenage girls get pregnant and it changes their whole lives. I really appreciate authors who can delve into these kinda of topics and not glamorize it, but make it real - the good and the bad of teen pregnancy and similar issues.

I definitely enjoyed this because you get just the feel of this story and how real it is.

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An atypical story about teen pregnancy that avoids problem novel cliches. Darrows has talked about the book being influenced by the movie Juno, and it shows. Hand to teens who recently enjoyed With the Fire on High, as they will likely enjoy this book's take on teen pregnancy. Realistic but not depressing, uplifting without being too easy.

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Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this early copy,

It was a well-written young adult novel that dealt with important topics.

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This book was so good. I love that it had for real situations. It didnt sugar coat anything and it wasn’t just about a romance. I would love to see a second book.

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Very cute book! heartwarming and realistic. I didn't have a chance to finish it before the publication date, but I very much enjoyed the journey and the family dynamics within.

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Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for access to this book in exchange for my honest review.  I am a sucker for young adult novels.  I love them.  I don't read them nearly enough.  When this book fell into my lap I was so excited!

Teen pregnancy.  This entire book is about a young teenage girl who makes one slight lapse in judgement and ends up pregnant.  This is her journey through her pregnancy with her friends and family.  She ends up moving a town away at the beginning of her pregnancy and probably was the best thing for her. 

Understanding.  I hope as a parent I will be as loving and understanding as Sara's mother.  Sara also has a supportive grandmother, Mormor, and the world's greatest friends.  There's even a little romance from Leaf thrown in here.  *sigh* There were such GREAT people in this one.

Snarky and laugh out loud funny.  With a topic as serious as teen pregnancy, this book manages to be a light, funny, and snarky read.  It is a lovely book to take your mind off of all the problems in the world.  It's a quick read too!

There never was a lack of respect in this book.  Guys...sh#t happens.  Sara is still in high school and well...high school never ends so you know how kids (and people) can be.  It is important to remind yourself to surround yourself with respectful, solid friends.  I am so glad Sara manages to do that in this book.  Even though she is dealing with her life derailed from her ivy league college dreams, she changes her outlook and still remains positive.  This really was a feel good read, even with the heavy topic of teenage pregnancy. 

4 star read.  This book made me glad I have the friends I do, who are just as supportive as Sara as they are of me.  It really made me feel good to know that in the real world, there are people like Sara's friends and that's important to remember.  Teenage pregnancy isn't the end of the world (it's not ideal I know), but this book serves as a reminder that no matter what you're going through, things will get better and you can make it through.  Great young adult read!!  Go pick this one up now!

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A sweet, funny, refreshingly sex-positive teen pregnancy story. Sara's voice is so warm and compelling, and it's great to see an example of a supportive system of friends and family come together to support her. Some descriptions of pregnancy phenomena feel a bit on the nose, but I imagine they'd be eye-opening and welcome to readers in the same boat. I'm a fan, this book was really good.

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This was so cute and adorable. It was super interesting and obviously not very realistic but I still really enjoyed my time reading it. I finished over two weeks ago so I do not remember much but I did really enjoy my time and found I often made excuses to read it.

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Aw dang, I didn't start this one early enough to finish it by the time it was archived! I really enjoyed the parts I read, though!

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I’m not 100% sure how I feel about this book..lol I honest couldn’t put it down & I completed it over the course of two days. I haven’t seen very many books that focus on teen pregnancy so Belly Up by Eva Darrows was a real surprise.
Serendipity aka Sara a seventeen-year-old high schooler ends up pregnant after a rebound one-night stand. She is spunky, smart, stubborn and compassionate. Her Mother and Grandmother were extremely supportive of her situation. In some parts of the book I felt the author was trying too hard to be relevant. IDK, but over all this was a good read. 3.5 out of five stars. Thank you, Netgalley & Inkyard Press Publishing, for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

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This is a very funny book, and I liked the supportive relationships in the book. Unfortunately for me, it was too political. There were times when I felt like I was being hammered with a viewpoint that could have been handled in a more subtle way. I think teens will really enjoy it though.

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This book was eye opening and a nice fresh experience in the YA genre. This topic needs to be addressed more in books so people can be more aware. I loved the development of the characters and how we followed her whole pregnancy journey including the impacts it had on her life!

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A really funny YA read about a high schooler who ends up pregnant after a rebound one night stand and is navigating mounting difficulties in her young life.

Serendipity aka Sara was spunky, smart, stubborn and compassionate. Her Mother and Grandmother were extremely supportive of her situation and subsequent decisions which helped lay the foundation for a wonderfully chaotic family dynamic.

The relationship that Leaf and Sara forged was so sweet and innocent. Despite her pregnancy, he didn’t look at or treat her any differently. He was her chef in shining armor.

I loved the reappearance of the baby’s father and his willingness to be in the picture, despite not having a relationship with Sara. He truly cared and that was exactly what Sara and baby needed.

While I thought this read hit on a lot of hot topics for teens, I felt at times it was trying too hard to be relevant. The lingo and jokes were often a little juvenile. What irked me the most was the over use of identifying everyone’s gender and sexual presences. This included the MC’s obsession with not referring to her baby‘s gender as female because maybe the baby will want to choose a different gender when they’re older. I can certainly appreciate a novel that addresses diversity and is sensitive to all identifiers, but the fact that every single main character needed a “label” seemed very far fetched and forced.

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Ease is always going to be my complaint about teen romances. Things happen too easily. Her first day at a new school Sara makes new friends and has a love interest. These are characters who don't even blink at her pregnancy. She has an amazingly strong support group in people she's only just met. She is briefly ostracized at school but that's easily resolved by a single confrontation. Additionally, the plot dabbles. It dips its toe into racial prejudice and sexual politics and then immediately stops. It tires too hard to be inclusive. Characters introduce themselves by sexual orientation for goodness sake. The trans character seems to exist only to lecture Sara about gender presentation. Pleasant but lacking in real substance.

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I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks NetGalley!

What a story line. A 16 year old girl finds herself pregnant after a one night stand with a stranger. She finds herself moving in with her grandma, starting a new girl, and who would have guessed, finding a new love thing with Leaf. Such a quirky fun book.

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Do not let my 3/5 stars rating deter you from picking this book up, I think many others will fall deeply in love with it. The places I find minor faults in, others will find joy in. This is truly a book that should be read and talked about in the community. I hope this book reaches many hands who feel underrepresented, and then in turn share it with others in the community.

I highly recommend this book to those who are desperately looking for a very diverse book, that is also trying its best to be politically correct. This book I believe will find a kinship with many people that do not feel represented in current literature. There are a plethora of characteristics that you do not see in the majority of the books you come across. Let me try to list the diversity in this book, due to how much there is I may miss a few by accident. (Don’t harp on me too much) Although I took notes while reading, I did finish this book about a month ago (life has been busy, and I wanted to make sure I wrote this specific review with care).
-plus sized/curvy main character - Swedish and Spanish heritage -Romanian heritage -generations of single mothers -asexuality/gray-ace/demisexual -transgender character -questioning sexuality -lesbian and bi characters

Along with a plethora of diversity, this book also covers topics like:
-abortion/pro-choice/pro-life -they/them pronouns - struggles of being a white looking Hispanic -gypsy being a slur to Romanians -importance of gender neutral names -raising your child gender neutral -slut shamming -making comments about race -respecting and learning about someone else’s culture and traditions -white dominated towns -non-accepting parents -unhealthy/abusive relationships -family pressure -preferences to plus size/curvy bodies -not agreeing with your parents choices -staying/not staying with child’s father

Now, I think this book has many great qualities..but it does have its faults in my own opinion. I think that although it covers many diverse topics, none of them were dove into with great detail due to the shear amount of topics. I think as time went on it felt like the author was trying to fit in as many things on the list of what they felt passionate about, but the novel wasn’t long enough to fit it all in. I wish that the author had picked less things to talk about, in order to better discuss and integrate them into the story naturally. The stories the author wanted to tell could be added into their other novels. Not everything had to be stuffed into one book. Many things were only mentioned once or twice in passing, and then never brought up again. The main character questioning her sexuality could have been a focal point of the story, but instead it was just randomly thrown in. I would have loved to see more of her best friends asexuality highlighted, but there was not much discussion of it at all. Some situations only seemed to be a plot point in order to show more diversity, but overall didn’t match or flow with the plot arc.

Although I appreciate the diversity this book tried to showcase, I was left feeling like I wanted more information. I think this book is a great stepping stone in the community, but there is room for a more refined quality.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for providing the opportunity to read this arc. As always, all thoughts are my own :)

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I got some Juno vibes from this and I loved it. It had an interesting main character that many will learn to love while reading this book.

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