Rating: 
Summary: A Rare Gem that Doesn't Take Itself too Seriously
Review: After having read countless books on pregnancy that either bored me to sleep or scared me to death, a friend sent me this one. While sitting up late at night wearing my giant maternity underwear and nursing some killer heartburn, I laughed until I cried reading some of Vicki Iovine's frank, on-target observations about the joys (and hassles) of pregnancy. Being pregnant is not always as beautiful and glamourous as Hallmark makes it out to be; however, most non-pregnant people (like husbands!) don't always understand the woes of the pregnant woman. This book pokes fun at all of the not-so-great aspects of pregnancy while also giving some great nuggets of factual information. I would highly recommend this to any pregnant woman with a well-developed sense of humor.
Rating: 
Summary: Over-rated
Review: I found this book aggravating and a complete waste of time. The constant use of Girlfriend with a capital G was just plain annoying after about two pages, and the constant reminders that we couldn't possibly glean any of this information from anywhere else except our girlfriends-with-a-capital-G was just infuriating! I found the advice offered extremely outdated, and I can't believe this book still seems to be a best-seller. I particularly disliked the chapter on exercise, which was basically just a rant about how pregnancy gives you a right to do no exercise and eat lots of food. I also disliked the advice on dealing with your partner (always referred to as your husband, with no disclaimer at the start to say that this term was used to incorporate any type of parenting partner). Basically, the message I got from this book was that, sure, your partner has emotions and needs, but that yours are greater and you should feel free to completely ignore them and focus on yourself. (page 109 states in capital letters "Ignore your husband's needs and look after yourself") I'd be interested to know how loving and stable a relationship Ms Iovine has with her husband after that kind of behaviour. The half-baked, non-medically based ideas about why certain things happen to your body during pregnancy were also quite disturbing, as were the way alternative birthing methods were disregarded. I will admit to the occasional chuckle at a wittily worded sentence, but overall I found this book basically one woman's excuse to talk ceaselessly about HER pregnancies and HER opinions on how you should deal with your own. I don't know if you have this book in America, but here in Australia we have one by Kaz Cooke called "Up the Duff" which is a hundred times better. Not only has it had me rolling around with uncontrollable laughter as I relate to a particular anecdote, but it is also packed with up-to-date and USEFUL medical advice and information, as well as all the "girlfriend" stuff without the annoying capital Gs! I would certainly recommend this book way above Vicki Iovine's. I did not find Iovine's book reassuring in the way I felt Cooke's to be, and I rarely related personally to any of the anecdotes.
Rating:
Summary: A Hoot!
Review: I read this book from cover to cover in one evening when I was pregnant with my first kid! I was going thru morning sickness worse than I ever knew was possible - and this book was the first time I felt like cracking a smile in weeks! Hilarious! I ended up reading all of Vicki Iovine's Girlfriend Guides! This book gives some straight up advice, the kind you would expect your best friend to give you! Vicki Iovine tells it like it is! She even lets you hand the book over to the father once in awhile for him to read something he should take to heart!-and perhaps crack him up too!! This is a light hearted, yet real approach to what goes on during pregnancy. I found myself agreeing with her soooo much that I could have helped her write the book!! I highly recommend this book to ALL pregnant women - and those who have already had that first one too! This is THE BEST pregnancy book I've ever read!! Give this book as a baby shower gift - but make sure she gets it early in the pregnancy! - You'll be glad you got it (and so will your friend)!!! P.S. If you or someone you know has morning sickness badly - get this!! I am forever grateful to the friend that loaned me this book while I was "sick" those first 4 months!
Rating:
Summary: Finding Humor in Pregnancy Pain
Review: I read this book twice and both times I laughed out loud! It is not meant to be informative, but rather funny. I did learn a lot, but it was the "real" stuff about pregnancy that you don't read in medical books. I HIGHLY recommend this book for all pregnant mothers looking for a good laugh and some girlfriend truths.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and frank!
Review: Not your typical educational pregnancy book, but what all of us pregnant gals are dying to know.
Rating:
Summary: Not informative, not supposed to be!
Review: This book is hilarious and definately a good read for many pregnant women. It is not a medical journal, it is just a collection of Ms. Iovine's experiences and those of her girlfriends. I'll admit some of them are not my experiences, but they are funny to read. As an atheist I did not find the book overly christian (any moreso than any other preganancy book out there). It is just a light, humorous read, in fact it is hilarious! I recommend it to anyone who does not get easily offened because some of her opinions might be different from yours, in other words, if you can't take a joke or are looking for serious medical instruction pick something else.
Rating:
Summary: Cute book, but definately anti-natural.
Review: This book has some cute advice and is very funny in places. What I didn't like about it was how pro-traditional medicine it was. Like the reviewer Shannen below said, it is very one-sided and anti-natural anything. The witches-midwife comment really bothered me, as well as the comment that natural childbirth will make you ugly because it will break all the blood vessels in your face from straining so hard. I think the author is really off base. All in all, I would not recommend this book because it tried to make me feel like a freak about being a natural parent. There are a lot of options for pregnant women and epidurals aren't the only choice, as the author implies. I believe that women should make the best choice for them, not what the author spouts as gospel.
Rating: 
Summary: Funny and brutally honest.
Review: At times the physical discomforts and hormone storms of pregnancy can be quite a bit to bear. Vicki Iovine brings a smile sometimes and a laugh often to the side of pregnancy that isn't addressed in much more serious books on the subject. I was given this book during my 4th pregnancy and as an experienced mother I still laughed quite a bit at some of the thoughts that the author voiced, things that most pregnant women have thought at one time or another but haven't wanted to state out loud. While short on information of any real depth and definately not for mothers with a strong bent towards natural pregnancy and childbirth, this book can bring a giggle to even the most uncomfortable, 2 weeks overdue and awake with heartburn pregnant mom to be.
Rating:
Summary: "Laugh 'til you cry..."
Review: I borrowed this book from a friend when I discovered that I was pregnant. Iovine provides a good dose of humor on all stages of preganancy that makes you laugh at loud. It's the ultimate companion to any woman who finds herself on the roller coaster of pregnancy for the first or the fifth time. Especially important was that I found that I was able to read the book out loud to my husband and we were able to enjoy a few laughs at my own expense (she has some funny thoughts on the early pregnancy mood swings) - always good to be able to laugh at yourself. Even if you don't enjoy the author's high-end lifestyle, you will still nod knowingly as you read along and be able share in Iovine's hilarious tales of pregnancy.
Rating: 
Summary: not so great
Review: with my first pregnancy one of my girlfriends recommended this book, but i bought "what to expect.." instead. My second pregnancy closely followed my first, so I bought this book, "the Girlfriends Guide..." and i was sorely disappointed. While i admit I found some of it interesting, and she does have a good sense of humor, i was mostly disappointed by the extreme biases throughout the book. Authors are entitled to their opinions, but i feel bad for all those people who only read this book and become so uninformed because of it. she only gives her experience and some of her friends. this is not enough information to base an informative help guide on. Plus she puts a negative light on chilbirth and pregnancy options she did not choose, but are available for others. if you want a book that gives you unbiased information and just informs you about pregnancy and childbirth, buy "what to expect..." it is a great book with no negative undertones, it just presents your choices and options. but if you are like the author and want to be like her, you'll love this book
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