The five authors of this alternative guide to pregnancy met at ante-natal classes and became friends. Instead of a text-book analysis of what happens during all the stages of pregnancy, this offers a down-to-earth experience from five women's perspectives. The honesty, notably in the chapter on sex, is endearing. The chatty, warm, style is undeniably readable, and bearing in mind how much information overload pregnant women have to handle, this certainly isn't a taxing read. It's a reassuring one.

The amateurish tone and the fact that these are clearly not professional writers is oddly the biggest plus point--and paradoxically the biggest weakness. Cynics will point to the overuse of certain words (namely "well"), the contrived jokes and liberal clichés. This, however, is not the fault of the five intelligent women who consist of a community learning disability nurse, a European Business studies graduate, a research scientist, a police officer and an accountant. While the style and approach would have been ideal for a Web site, many readers will be put off by the unnecessary suburban style (not to mention illustrations). Skilful editing and rewriting on the part of the publishers would have elevated their experiences from what amounts to an extended mass magazine feature, and done them the justice their honesty deserves. --Lorna V

The fat ladies' club are Sarah, Hilary, Andrea, Lyndsey and Annette. They met at their ante-natal classes and their book will give you a taste of all the emotions and changes, humourous and horrendous, which they experienced through their pregnancies and early months of first-time motherhood. Other books will give you the factual stuff - what changes you can expect to your body, how the foetus develops, well, forget the textbook theory now and settle down for what amounts to an eavesdrop into their girlie chats. There are no facts, no figures - just pure unadulterated detail on all the bits you really wanted to know but were to afraid to ask! What happened to their sex lives? Did "it" feel the same afterwards? When did they first feel like a mum? This alternative guide to the real in and outs of pregnancy gives entertaining anecdotes which women may either learn from, relate to or remember back to their own pregnancies with amusement.

2008-02-18 The best book you will read

I got this book when i was having my first baby, i was so nice to read a down to earth normal book (not that many out there about pregnancy) trust me i read every book going. Now i am having my second baby and i have read it again and i still laugh out loud. I have lent this book out to all my friends over the past couple of years who have been pregnant and they all agree its one of the best books out there for pregnant women.