Baby Bank by Sarah Robinson
Published: September 19, 2023
Genre: LGBTQ+
Pages: 324
KKECReads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Sarah Robinson first started her writing career as a published poet in high school, and then continued in college, winning several poetry awards and being published in multiple local literary journals. Never expecting to make a career of it, a freelance writing Craigslist job accidentally introduced her to the world of book publishing. Lengthening her writing from poetry to novels, Robinson published her first book through a small press publisher, before moving into self-publishing, and then finally accepting a contract from Penguin Random House two years later.
This poses a bit of a problem since she’s ten swipes past single and living Golden Girls style with two of her best friends who work on Capitol Hill and one ornery old cat. That is, until she hears a story from a friend about a free sperm bank online app called Baby Bank. A few margaritas later and Mila has swiped on over fifty sperm donors until she finds the perfect match—handsome, successful, brilliant, everything you’d want your sperm to be.
Now she’s meeting him at a hotel—along with two of her friends for backup—to complete the process. All should have gone smoothly, except when she learns that her sperm donor is the brother of the reporter that Mila has been dodging for months, and that while she originally only wanted this man’s baby, she actually wants his sister, too.
“These next nine months are going to be interesting.”
This was a cute book. I loved the positivity and inclusion. It’s always so lovely seeing the queer community being represented in such a positive, non-spotlight way where the characters are treated like ordinary characters.
I didn’t like Mila for much of the book. She came across as very self-absorbed and wasn’t the great friend she expected others to be. She does have a significant bit of development, so she gets better.
I loved the character dynamics in this story. My favorite was Isa. Read this, and you’ll know why. I loved Chicky as well; she was such a hoot.
The plot moved smoothly, filled with humor, drama, and the daily mundane that kept things interesting. I enjoyed the concept of having a child alone. I love that that is an option for so many families.
I didn’t know baby banks were a real thing, but it is such a fantastic concept, and I love that there are people in the world who want to help others in such a hugely selfless way.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and I would reread this author. I liked her writing style and found her relevant.