Jane
is a 29 year old London book editor with no real penchant for
typical girl things, such as close women friendships, desire for
marriage and children, and the ability to be selfless (not selfish)
at times. She recently
has watched many acquaintances get married and start families and
is always sad that it isn’t her turn.
Not because it’s what she truly wants, more because it
seems the thing to do. She
also has grown up in the shadow of her perfect older sister and has
a less-than-supportive mother who clearly plays favorites.
This is not said to excuse her behavior, but she does seem
to have some issues.
Jane
starts off truly thinking she is pregnant.
As she starts to mention her pregnancy to strangers on the
street, she is pleasantly surprised by the attention and kindness
she is shown. A whole
new rosy world! Her
bubble is burst soon after when she discovers she never was
pregnant. However,
this discovery was not made until after delivering the news to the
father to be. Since he
wasn’t horrified by the idea, she begins to think that maybe she
could keep up the charade a bit longer until she can actually get
herself pregnant. The
small problem of proof was easily solved with the help of a
pregnancy test and pink magic marker.
As luck would have it, though, her boyfriend finds her out
before their impending nuptials.
Not
willing to give up the newfound attention from co-workers and
family, she tells them she will go it alone and be a single mother,
which results in even more doting and attention from all.
Along the way, she inconveniently meets the man of her
dreams and then has to worry about keeping her pregnant and
non-pregnant worlds from colliding.
How long can she keep up the charade and what on earth will
she do after nine months are up?
Well, one thing seems to be certain - even though there was
never a little person growing inside her, she at least has grown a
little as a person by the end of the whole outrageous ordeal.
I still think she could use a little therapy, though.
About
the author: Lauren
Baratz-Logsted is now or has been:
a doughnut salesperson, a bookseller, a window washer, a
book reviewer, a sort-of librarian and a freelance editor and
writer. Unlike her
heroine, she did not fake her pregnancy.
She lives with her husband and daughter in
The Thin Pink Line