Baby Bank
by Sarah Robinson
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app
1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date Sep 19 2023 | Archive Date Oct 17 2023
Talking about this book? Use #BabyBank #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!
Description
* An Apple Books Top Romance for Pride Month*
Mila Torres is a successful divorce lawyer by day, stand-up comedian by night and by all accounts--except her mother's--living a bisexual elder millennial's dream life in Washington, DC. That is until she realizes she's only a year away from hitting the ripe old age of thirty-five and her doctor suggests at her annual pap smear that maybe she should consider freezing her eggs if she wants kids in the future. Except, she doesn't want a child in the far future...she wants a child right now.
This poses a bit of a problem since she's ten swipes past single and living Golden Girls style with two of her best friends who work on Capitol Hill and one ornery old cat. That is, until she hears a story from a friend about a free sperm bank online app called Baby Bank. A few margaritas later and Mila has swiped on over fifty sperm donors until she finds the perfect match--handsome, successful, brilliant, everything you'd want your sperm to be.
Now she's meeting him at a hotel--along with two of her best friends for back up--to complete the process. All should have gone smoothly, except when she learns that her sperm donor is the brother of the reporter that Mila has been dodging for months, and that while she originally only wanted this man's baby, she actually wants his sister, too.
In a comedic story of LGBTQIA+ romance and millennial specific drama, Mila finds that motherhood and dating are not compatible when you keep it all in the family and that the modern elder millennial maybe can't have it all.
Coming to ebook, audiobook, and paperback!
Advance Praise
"A delightfully witty sapphic romance that is deeper than I had anticipated and these emotions underlie the humor and sarcasm used to tell the story." - The Lesbian Review
"A Washington, D.C.–based pansexual attorney and fledgling comedian decides to impregnate herself in this romantic comedy...a chaotic protagonist drives a funny, flawed romance!" - Kirkus Reviews
"This is the first in a new series of stand alone lesbian books. I will be ready to read what ever the author writes next." - Goodreads Review
"This book is all about female empowerment and choosing the family you want!" - NetGalley Review
"I cannot stop laughing! Omg, chapter 6 is unforgettable."
- Goodreads Reviewer
"I already know that this is going to be one of my favorite reads of 2023!"
- Goodreads Reviewer
"Finally! Lesbian representation that isn't just trauma porn!"
- Beta Reader
Available Editions
EDITION | Ebook |
ISBN | 9798223246879 |
PRICE | $3.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 306 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
This book is all about female empowerment and choosing the family you want. Mila is a single pansexual woman who wants to start having a family on her own. When she finds out about an app that she could swipe right on a perfect sperm donor, she jumps on the opportunity. After Mila picks her ideal candidate, she soon realizes she knows his sister, Ari, and she might have feelings for her. This is when things start to get interesting, leading up to Mila giving birth.
The writing was very well done. I felt it was realistic and full of heart. It was easy to fall in love with the characters and immediately invest in the story. There were plenty of witty one-liners that I had to laugh out loud constantly. I loved that Mila had instant support from her friends and, eventually, from her mother. It shows that sometimes family is not just blood but people you want in your circle who love and support you no matter what. If you’re looking for a cute, humorous story that is feel-good for your soul, I highly recommend Baby Bank.
Thank you to NetGallery for giving me a copy of this book.
NetGalley ARC Educator 550974
A cute story that explores the mind and actions of a woman whose time to conceive is dwindling. Add to the equation, two doting friends and a brother and sister that she is interested in. One for his sperm and his sister for love.
This would make a funny Lifetime or LOGO movie. It is a fantastic one sitting read with many lovable characters.
"Things to do, people to make, that sorta thing..." Oh, the pansexual trip to motherhood in this severely independent and technology advanced century we find ourselves in.
I laughed and loved up this book as if I were reading my bestie's diary. I adored the fact that the mom to be had real feelings towards her little alien invader... not instalove, no hallmark movie moments, but descriptions of a fierce need to protect what she had made and an acknowledgement that she would fall in love over time. Finally, a real account of motherhood I can applaud.
The lawyer/comedienne finding her conscience, morally and ethically, was an interesting plot and once she paired up with the swoon worthy reporter? The writing was on the wall. The app? Just makes a small queer world that much smaller and I wholeheartedly giggled at the little web woven from it.
This author has such a unique voice- the writing is authentic and with it comes a lot of laughter, a lot of sighing, and loads of steamy scenes where you wonder if you need to do any laundry. Truly, a fun read and I cannot wait to read more from this universe she's created for us readers to play in.
This book is super cute and super inclusive - a great Pride Month read
I love that the main "conflict" doesn't involve toxic behaviors, but journalistic integrity and healthy boundaries
I love how there is a found family and comedic stand up routines
it's also hilarious to see a book talk about the "distance" between Northern Virginia, DC, and MD and how residents of each kind of look down on each other - Being a native of the region myself, it was fun to read about crossing bridges and laugh about how far Germantown MD and Woodbridge VA are from DC
I like the representation of family being what you make and deciding to have a baby on your own terms, the funny telanovella my sperm donor is my lover's brother bit is also a cute twist
I recommend this to anyone who wants a good romance, great spicy scenes, and also someone who wants something out of the heteronormative romance spectrum
My main takeaway from this book was the absolutely beautiful representation of found family, it showed how families can come in so many different forms and queer ones especially make such a beautiful foundation. I’ve never read such a lovely un judgemental book about an unconventional way of having children, Milas journey of motherhood was gorgeous and the romance aspect of this book was just the icing on the cake! An absolutely phenomenal pride month read!
This was such a fun read. Women empowerment at its best! The characters were great and easy to love. It was a very easy read…went by sooo fast!! Without giving away too much … if only there was an app like that. It honestly sounds so fun to find sperm that way. so if you’re looking for a lighthearted funny read… give baby bank a try!!
This was such a funny book with great representation!!
Chapter 6 was so funny!!!!
Can’t wait to read more from Sarah Robinson!
I really enjoyed this story. In fact, every story I have read by this author are terrific. This particular one is fun, enjoyable and makes a perfect afternoon read. Loved the characters, their story and how it was written. I laughed and fell in love with it all. If you haven’t given this a read you should certainly do so.
From the very first page, this book had me laughing, cringing, blushing, and aww'ing. It is a complete rollercoaster of an emotional journey as told through the eyes of Mila, a single woman, lawyer by day and dabbling in comedy hy night, who decides she's going to go it alone at motherhood. Her unspoken thoughts were as funny as they were relatable, and the triumphs and stumbling blocks made me want to celebrate and commiserate with her.
I am so happy this book exists!
I was expecting to enjoy this, but I didn't expect to fall head over heels in love with the writing like this.
Baby Bank was funny, thought-provoking and as realistic as they come!
These are characters readers can connect to and fall in love with.
Sarah Robinson’s writing was absolutely incredible here and I can’t wait to read more of her books.
"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
Mila had a very demanding job as an lawyer. She was thirty five and single. She had a very close knit group of friends and a very supportive and loving mother. She also loved performing stand up comedy in her spare time. She had quite a busy life. But there was something missing…she wanted a baby. So with her supportive friends encouraging her, she downloaded the baby bank app and chose her sperm donor. It seemed simple enough, but it was more complicated and far more emotional than expected.
I enjoyed the different characters and everything they added to the story. Some of their interactions with the protagonists were quite funny. There were also many emotional and heartfelt moments that brought additional depth to the storyline such as in dealing with ethics, morality, and abortion.
Overall, this was a very entertaining read.
Hilarious and very lighthearted queer rom-com. Mila is a 34 year old high powered divorce attorney crushing ex-wives for the most powerful men in Washington. She is also pansexual, single, and living her best life with great friends and roommates and an amazing relationship with her mom. The book starts with her making a series of somewhat rash decisions that are 100% relatable, and then living with the consequences without regrets or self recrimination like an absolute boss.
It has been a while since I had a book that I couldn't put down, so I was happy and surprised when I felt that way about this one. The book is really more about Mila, than building angsty romance between Mila and Ari, but even die hard romance lovers need a break from dysfunction. The sense of humor and dialog had me busting out laughing, and even sharing scenes with friends.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this title before publication. All opinions are my own, and I cannot wait to share the title with friends and recommend to patrons at my library!
Baby Bank by Sarah Robinson
Publisher: Books by Sarah Robinson
Genre: LGBTQIAP+, Multicultural Interest, Romance
Expected Publication Date: September 19, 2023
Baby Bank by Sarah Robinson is one of my favorite books I've read this year! This quick read is funny, heartwarming, and overall, is a feel good book.
There were so many times I actually laughed out loud while reading. (Be cautioned, drinking and reading can be dangerous LOL) I found this to be so funny, and at the same time, so real and raw.
I absolutely loved the characters and I loved how the author brought them all together so they could grow and learn. I loved the messaging around family and how it is so much more than the family you are born into. I also loved how the romance was developed. The chemistry felt real and I enjoyed seeing things develop. The NSFW parts were tastefully written and were meant to drive the story forward.
I thought I was going to find this book hard to read (IYKYK), but I realized I have done some healing and growing of my own. There were many parts of this book that I could relate to and while I looked back at my own life with fondness and a little sadness, I also saw the happiness of my life as it is right now.
I definitely recommend reading Baby Bank! It is filled with so much heart!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a slightly different than the genres I’m used to, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It’s a feel good book and I thought it was beautiful.
I feel like this is a book I have been looking for and it finally found me. I adored this book. The characters felt like friends so quickly and I couldn’t wait to pick the book back up and see them again. This book totally deserves to go viral, and I fully expect it to.
I haven’t read much LGBTQIA+ fiction yet, but thoroughly enjoy it when I do. The characters in this book felt real and this added so much to my enjoyment.
When this book ended I was totally ready to read about those characters all over again, and I will certainly keep my eye out for more books by Sarah Robinson. I’ll miss these characters, I have to meet them again some time.
This really is one of the best books I’ve read while!
This book has to be the best book I've read this year. I couldn't put it down once I started it. I don't want to give anything away but omg you will fall in love if you give it a try.
Hilarious, fast paced, loveable characters made Baby Bank a lovely way to wind down after a long day. Thank you Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review
Interesting, attention grabbing read. Swiping for sperm is a bit bizarre, but in today’s world anything is possible.
This book was a really good surprise for me. I don't known what I expected, but this book was so much more than I've could ever imagined!
I loved every single one of the characters and I really love the concept of the book.
I never really read books that talked about motherhood journey, normally they're pregnant by the end of the book or the child is like 3/4 years old.
I loved how Mila an Ari story developed, I loved the insta attraction, and all the complications that happened afterwards. I loved how their relationship goes from "hook-up", to friends, to wifeys 💓.
Ari character was my favourite, I loved how se put Mila's needs first even though sometimes it was complicated for her, and I liked how she set some boundaries for their situationship, so they could have time to figure out what they really wanted.
Mila's character was a mess, and I liked it that it felt so real, all the emotions she went through, the "ohmygodwhatimgonnadowithmylifenow", the relationship with her mother! The fact they talk about therapy so openly.
And I really loved the fact that I could learn more about the LGBTQ+ community.
This was a book I didn't think a needed until I read it.
Can wait to September to buy the book so I can go in this amazing journey again!
Can wait for. 2024 for the second book!
Thanks so much netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
I will post this review on Goodreads and in September in my bookstgram account.
The Baby Bank is a brilliantly written, laugh-out-loud Lesbian romance. I loved the characters, the plot line and the fact that it has it's poignant moments.
Sarah Robinson writes great rom-coms, straight and lesbian, and this is a worthy addition to the collection.
Title: Baby Bank by Sarah Robinson - A Sweet, Cute, and Hilarious Rom-Com
Sarah Robinson's "Baby Bank" is an absolute delight, weaving together humor, love, and the complexities of modern relationships. Mila Torres, a successful divorce lawyer and a stand-up comedian, is living the life of a bisexual elder millennial in Washington, DC. But as she approaches thirty-five, her doctor's suggestion of freezing her eggs forces her to confront her desire for a child right now. Enter the Baby Bank app, an unconventional solution to her predicament.
The heart of this story lies in its hilariously entertaining characters, starting with the mother, Chicky. Her antics and witty one-liners had me bursting into fits of laughter throughout the book. Chicky's unique personality brought an endearing element to the story, creating a lovable and humorous mother-daughter dynamic.
Mila's stepson, the source of both amusement and occasional irritation, adds depth to the story. His lack of etiquette and his interactions with Mila create amusing and touching moments, showcasing the complexities of blended families.
The supporting cast of characters adds life and laughter to the narrative. Mila's Capitol Hill friends, her ornery old cat, and the various comedy shows contribute to the story's charm. Each character brings a unique flavor to the mix, making the reader feel like a part of their close-knit circle.
The romantic entanglements and misadventures provide the perfect backdrop for this heartwarming rom-com. As Mila meets her chosen sperm donor, the unexpected twist of him being the brother of a reporter she's been avoiding leads to humorous and heartwarming moments. The tangled web of emotions and desires keeps the reader engaged, eagerly turning the pages to see how Mila navigates this newfound complexity.
Sarah Robinson's writing style is both captivating and witty, perfectly suited for a romantic comedy. She manages to create relatable characters who feel like friends, drawing readers into their world with ease. The fast-paced plot keeps the story engaging, and the blend of humor, romance, and introspection strikes a perfect balance.
Overall, "Baby Bank" is a sweet, cute, and absolutely hilarious read. Sarah Robinson's ability to craft relatable characters and humorous situations sets this book apart. From start to finish, I found myself deeply invested in Mila's journey, rooting for her happiness, and sharing in her laughter and struggles. If you're in the mood for a heartwarming rom-com with a fantastic cast of characters, "Baby Bank" should be at the top of your reading list. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend it to anyone seeking an uplifting and entertaining read.
This book is hilarious!!!!! When this author says it’s a romantic comedy, she delivered JUST THAT! Mila is goals, she has her 9-5 lawyer job, and on the weekends or at night’s she’s a comedian, I think that’s so awesome. She was told that after a certain age it will be hard to conceive and that she should have alternatives lined up for the future, she tells her funny AF friends and they suggested this app where you can actually get sperm, GRINGY AF!!!! But she does it. And to add more drama and comedy to this WHOLE thing, the guy she chooses has a sister, and she’s someone she has been crushing for some time but because of their occupations they keep things separate until it can’t be helped, and they feed into their attraction. I feel like I’m running on and on, but this whole book is full of laugh worthy scenarios. I didn’t realize how much of a good laugh I needed. The author did her thing I can’t wait to read more from this author.
I loved the synopsis of this story and knew I had to read it. “Baby Bank” is a fun, sweet and emotional sapphic book that pulled me in with its great characters and was such a great read.
Mila is a lawyer living in D.C. and after a recent trip to the doctor, has her thinking about her future and if kids are in that future. After thinking about it, she decides yes and goes on the hunt for a sperm donor since she’s going to do it on her own. When one of her friends tells her about an app called Baby Bank, she finds her donor. While doing all of this, she’s being pursued by a reporter named Ari, who wants her help taking down a senator that is trying to pass a bill that is threatening women’s rights. And the two have another connection they weren’t expecting, Ari is the sister of Mila’s sperm donor.
The storyline is full of green flags and makes it even more special. It’s all from Mila’s POV so we get to see her learn and grow as she gets pregnant and realize that she has feelings for Ari. Mila is a pansexual and it’s so great that it had that kind of representation in the book. Hearts not parts. Mila grew so much in the book and I ended up admiring her and what she stood for. She wanted to be a mom and took matters into her own hands to get it done. And also being brave enough to stand up and make sure people knew about that senator. Ari was such a great character and I admired her for who she was as a person. The last few chapters were great and left me with a smile on my face. This is the first book in the series and I hope we get more soon.
Sarah Robinson has written a funny book that I really enjoyed and told my reading group about. I will be reading further titles by Sarah and I’m sure they will be as good as Baby Bank.
This story had such a unique plot and overall it delivered! I enjoyed the characters and the way their relationship built up throughout the book. I would've liked a longer book to build more depth, but I definitely recommend this book.
Baby Bank is a queer romantic comedy and the first in the Queerly Devoted series. Mila Torres is a bisexual DC lawyer by day and a stand up comedian by night. At thirty-four, she is feeling time ticking away on her chance at motherhood, so being the independent millennial she is, she decides it’s time to become a mom, whether she has a partner in the picture or not. Enter Baby Bank, the free sperm donor app. This is a story of knowing who you are, going for what you want, comedy and romance.
I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when I picked up this book. I don’t read a lot of queer books and wasn’t sure how the Baby Bank app was going to play out, but I am definitely glad I took a chance on this book. I found this to be a great new aged romance with undertones of finding yourself even when you thought you knew who you were and discovery. The comedy throughout this book made it hard to put this down, I kept looking forward to the next humorous thing to happen. Like I said before, I haven’t read many queer books, but I can definitely say of the few I have read, this is my favorite! I really enjoyed the characters and how everything played out on this book. The ending seemed to come up too quick, but I loved the deleted chapter after the epilogue! I definitely recommend this is you want a laugh and some good, queer romance!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!
This is such a fun read, I read it in one sitting!
We meet Mila Torres a successful divorce lawyer by day, and a stand-up comedian by night. Whilst visiting her doctors for her annual pap smear, he suggests that if she wants child in the future, she needs to freeze her eggs. Mila pretty much decides that she doesn’t want children in the future, she wants them now…
Mila is introduced to Baby Bank, a free sperm bank app. After getting her girlfriends together and swiping numerous times, Mila finds the perfect candidate. She meets him at a hotel and using a home insemination kit - Mila becomes pregnant. However, it’s not just his baby she wants… she also wants his sister.
I loved the LGTBQIA+ representation in this book. The characters are fantastic, the story is so well written and the female empowerment is something else! I found this book really fun and easy to read. The idea of this book to me was really wholesome, I was left feeling really emotional in certain parts and rooting for our main characters throughout! I would 100% recommend this books to friends.
I look forward to reading more Sarah Robinson books in the future! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
Baby Bank is a delightfully witty sapphic romance that is deeper than I had anticipated. This is a book that firmly has a place on my reread list due to the humor, witty dialogue, and dynamic characters all wrapped up in a snuggly baby blanket!
Give me more queer romance novels with alternate family planning please!!! So I have previously hated romance novels that feature a pregnant FMC (if you remember my review of RoomHate it was the worst haha). Now maybe I’m a little more open to it when it includes two queer women and a sperm bank app 😂
I loved that this book spoke to alternate family planning. The FMC wants to start a family and jumps in solo because she wants to start a family even if it means as a single parent! I also love that it mentions the astronomical cost of alternate family planning that makes it near impossible for many queer folks, single people or other economically less privileged people.
Also both FMCs were funny, complicated, in therapy 🥳, and going through many major life changes (relatable content anyone 🤣).
Also what I loved loved besides all of the above were the incredible ancillary characters from the family (can I get a Chickie and Pastor Steve romance novel please, love seeing older characters being spicy and finding romance) to the roomies, friends, etc. They all felt like fully developed characters in their own right even the smaller parts instead of just a plot device, which I felt like I’d like more romance novels to take notice of. Which makes me even happier that I read the end notes and it looks like we will have more books in this world!
Thank you @netgalley for my copy! This is out September 19th! Also pictured walking Brooklyn because I read the majority of this book on our morning walks 😍
*disclaimer: I was gifted this by netgalley and I'm voluntarily leaving a review*
Queer romantic comedy with found family? Pining? Sign me UP. This was such a cute book. I'm so so happy I found this, and I devoured most of it in one day.
The fact that this is part of a series is even better. Normally I'm not a fan of cartoon like covers like this one (it's why I haven't read a lot of booktok/bookstagram books let's be honest) but the cover grew on me more as time went on.
The only thing I would change is that the inside cover says it's a lesbian romance, and that's only partially true, as the main character is pansexual. It may be a good idea to say it's sapphic instead.
I grew really attached to these characters, and seeing that the author based some of this on her own experiences was so sweet. As the character Ari often says, family is what you make, not who you are related to. The chemistry between Ari & Mila was so good, and the banter is phenomenal. This author is definitely one I'm gonna follow more closely, as this book is really good and I love queer books.
I’m a huge fan of Sarah Robinson and her new book is a well written fun description of having a Baby from the donor Bank.
The storyline is quirky and has all the feels, with some unexpected surprises in the quest to have a baby. I love the writing style, the emotional connection and complexities of relationships.
Mila is thinking about having a baby, will it be on her own or will she find love?
The characters all bring their own personalities to the story, lots of laughs, love and heartwarming moments. Options to have a baby are not always straightforward and this story will have you thinking about all that love is.
Huge congratulations and thanks to Books by Sarah Robinson, NetGalley and the fantastic Sarah Robinson for the opportunity to read this amazing book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.