Rating: 
Summary: Kept me laughing, very conversational
Review: I skimmed through this book while my husband & I were trying to conceive and laughed out loud numerous times. Now that I'm five weeks along, I'm reading it more thoroughly and laughing & loving it even more! The author tells it like it is, and it's nice to hear things from someone who has experienced it, not just someone with letters after their name. Don't get me wrong, I'm also reading books by medical practitioners for play-by-play of the pregnancy, but this one is just like talking to a Girlfriend. I just now learned (from another review) that she has two more books and I look forward to reading them, too. Thanks, Vicki!
Rating: 
Summary: Poor Vicki!
Review: This book is supposed to be a helpful, hip guide to the real inside scoop on pregnancy. Some of the advice -- especially how not to spend a fortune on maternity clothes, what to take to the hospital, things like that -- is excellent; but I was disturbed at how awful she makes the whole pregnancy and birth experience sound. I'm currently trying to conceive for the first time, and she almost made me rethink the whole idea! Fortunately, <i>my</i> girlfriends who've been there and done that claim it's all not as dire as Iovine makes it sound. Maybe if you pop out four in six years (!) the experience wears a bit thin ...I found the endless moaning about how fat and disgusting pregnant women look, and how repulsive they are to the men in their lives, to be quite tiresome, especially coming from a woman who repeatedly reminds us that she wears a size four. The tone throughout makes it sound as if Mr. Vicki is hell on wheels to be married to -- the second she became marginally less decorative he can hardly stand to look at her or, indeed, be in the same room. Now <i>there's</i> a man I'd be dying to be married to! Parts of this book are quite funny: Iovine has a nice, chatty, girlfriendy tone throughout, and you come out rather liking her as a person. But the end result of reading this book, for me, was depressing rather than comforting. Do women ever actually want to get pregnant, and not regret the choice once it happens? If you listen to Iovine, you sure wouldn't think so.
Rating: 
Summary: Reassuring and hilarious; a must-read
Review: I haven't stopped laughing since I started reading this book a few days ago. Vicki Iovine clearly knows what's on the minds of moms-to-be, and anyone wondering about the joys and mutations of pregnancy will enjoy this book. I certainly have.
Rating:
Summary: Reassuring and entertaining at the same time
Review: I thought Vicky's book was very insiteful and candid. I like her humor and her realistic suggestions. I, like other reviewers, only did not like the section on exercise. She states (and seems to imply for others) that she only works out to look good or lose weight. For those of us who will never be a size 4 but just enjoy exercise for the physical and mental release, I would differ on her opinions of exercise at such a mentally trying time anyway. Other than that I found the book easy to read and funny. She makes it okay to laugh at yourself during this time of many changes.
Rating:
Summary: The most readable pregnancy book out there. It's the BEST!
Review: After reading all of the usual pregnancy books, this one was a true delight. Iovine holds no punches. It's witty and intelligent and just fun to read. The only thing I didn't like was the chapter on exercise. I believe everyone should stay fit and pregnancy is no excuse to stop exercising. Other than that, it's really the most realistic pregnancy book on the market.
Rating:
Summary: The one pregnancy book I turned to time again for the truth!
Review: This book gave me the vivid truth about pregnancy and child birth in a humorous in your face way. It was the one book I turned to time and again during my pregnancy and it is the only book I recommend to my girlfriends!! I liked it so much, I bought her "First Year" and "Toddlers" books too!!!
Rating:
Summary: A MUST-READ FOR ALL FIRST-TIME MOTHERS-TO-BE!
Review: I read this book three times. The first time I laughed so hard that I read it again, just for entertainment! I wasn't yet pregnant when I read it the first two times, and now that I am, I read it again. Not only is Iovine a witty and wonderful writer (she truly makes the reader feel like a "girlfriend"), but her advice and reports about the experience of being pregnant are invaluable. Of course no one will write a book with which everone will agree on every point, but this book provides information and understanding in a very funny and readable package. Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: a funny and frightfully truthfull book
Review: This book was great!! This is my first pregnancy and I have no idea what to expect. I felt this book helped give a positive AND negative idea about what the next 9 months will be like. I like the fact this book is straight forward and not sugar coated...I like to be prepared for better or worse. The fact that it is so funny and personal made me feel like I had a girlfriend there sharing her experiences with me. I highly recommend this book to all first time pregnant woman!!!
Rating:
Summary: Chill out!!! This book is meant for humor.
Review: My husband and I are currently trying to concieve and most of the people I socialize with at work are pregnant or have a baby under 1. I have read this book and have found it throughly enjoying. For those that think this is the be-all-end-all of pregnancy books are too uptight. Vicki states that she does not think this book should replace a more medical informative pregnancy book. But realisticly, does the doctor ever tell this stuff. NO! Most of what I read has been told to me by my friends who said the doctor never told them. They felt pregnancy was a wonderful experience, but wish someone had told them some of the real life information in this book. And for the "What to Expect" books, they approach pregnancy with such an old fashioned mind set. I prefer the series by PARENTING. I consider them to be a more medical approach and this book as a welcomed release of humor when needed and dose of reality. For those of you that are too uptight to realize this, I hope you don't plan on raising your children to always expect life to be a textbook experience. The only way to get through some of the hard times in life is with humor.
Rating: 
Summary: The Girlfriend's Guide Bombs
Review: This book was very negative. Thank goodness I read it when I was far along in my pregnancy or I would have been dreading it instead of loving it. Your attitude can make or break a pregnancy and Iovine's book doesn't do much to help give you a positive one. I didn't learn anything new and disagreed with her views on exercise, weight gain and labor. There are many books available. Don't settle for this one.
| 
