"Meternity" - Not Just For Mothers (review)

TITLE: Meternity
AUTHOR: Meghann Foye
PUBLISHER: Mira
PUBLISHING DATE: April 26, 2016

FROM GOODREADS: Not quite knocked up… 

Like everyone in New York media, editor Liz Buckley runs on cupcakes, caffeine and cocktails. But at thirty-one, she's plateaued at Paddy Cakes, a glossy baby magazine that flogs thousand-dollar strollers to entitled, hypercompetitive spawn-havers.

Liz has spent years working a gazillion hours a week picking up the slack for coworkers with kids, and she's tired of it. So one day when her stress-related nausea is mistaken for morning sickness by her bosses—boom! Liz is promoted to the mommy track. She decides to run with it and plans to use her paid time off to figure out her life: work, love and otherwise. It'll be her "meternity" leave.

By day, Liz rocks a foam-rubber belly under fab maternity outfits. By night, she dumps the bump for karaoke nights and boozy dinners out. But how long can she keep up her charade…and hide it from the guy who might just be The One?

As her "due date" approaches, Liz is exhausted—and exhilarated—by the ruse, the guilt and the feelings brought on by a totally fictional belly-tenant…about happiness, success, family and the nature of love.

MY THOUGHTS: 
This really isn't the type of book I usually read or pick up, but when I was offered it as part of Book Sparks #ItsRainingBooks promotion, for some reason I couldn't pass it up and I am glad that I didn't. Liz Buckley works at a famous baby magazine "Patty Cakes" and is having trouble getting ahead. She starts to become resentful of all of the mothers and pregnant individuals at the agency who seem to get special treatment. When her vacation is suddenly canceled because of another "mommy crisis," Liz suddenly lets everyone on staff know that she too is expecting. There is only one problem....Liz isn't pregnant and she doesn't even have a boyfriend. Liz figures she will use the time leading up to her "delivery" plus her MEternity leave, to find another position at a different magazine, before her secret comes out.

"Meternity" is an interesting read. I enjoyed Liz's antics and it was interesting to see the author's take on preferential treatment of mothers in society versus those who do not have children. I found this book especially interesting and maybe it hit close to home because at one point in my career, I was told I could stay late and have messed up hours because I didn't have children at home. Liz has a great supporting cast in this book and it is only because of her friends that she is able to pull off such a farce. This book also has its share of villains, which may or may not be as bad as they seem.

I found "Meternity" to be somewhat predictable but that didn't stop me from enjoying it. I knew about half way through how Liz's "pregnancy" would pan out. Liz's love interests in the book are interesting, and will have you rooting for two different men for two different reasons. I do feel the book wrapped up too neatly at the end and that the author may have been striving to provide everyone with a "happily ever after." However, it did not really take away from my enjoyment.

If you don't have kids or even want kids, don't worry, this still may be a book for you. I think it speaks more to a society that has become "parent centered" and I love Foye's spin on the situation. I am definitely glad I stepped out of my reading comfort zone and gave "Meternity" a chance. It also has a "Bridget Jones" vibe so if you enjoy that series, you will more than likely enjoy this novel as well.

I received this book from the publisher and Book Sparks in exchange for an honest review.

RATING: 4 PAWS