"Brown (Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives) takes baby mania to its illogical, hysterical extreme in this bubbly romp. Thirty-seven-year-old Katie's biological clock is ticking like a time bomb, and she turns her baby obsession into a wildly successful consultant gig planning nurseries for pregnant women too rich, clueless, bedridden, or busy to do the task themselves.
Even grieving widower Seth, who works with Katie's child-shy husband, Alex, on a demanding new business venture, needs Katie's services to help him manage his perplexing new role as a single dad. But what begins as a light foray into Bugaboo country turns into something bigger than a satire of status-obsessed Bay Area yummy mummies as Brown takes a dark look at the fears of parenthood and family, with Katie's heartbreaking longing for a child unveiling a disturbing reality about her marriage and family. Still, the message from the somber realities is one full of hope: love makes a family, commitment keeps it together."
--Publishers Weekly
"37-year-old San Francisco resident Katie Johnson makes her living as a "baby planner". For her too wealthy, too busy, or just plain too lazy clients, Katie plans the ultimate baby nursery. The irony? While Katie longs to design a nursery for a child of her own, her husband, Alex, doesn't want to have a baby. As Katie helps a client adjust to raising a newborn alone after the death of his wife in childbirth, she finds her yearning for a baby growing ever stronger. Can she change Alex's mind? A funny, engaging, and often bittersweet tale from the author of Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives (2010)."
--Cincinnati Public Library Spotlight Feature
"If you’re looking for a fun and thought-provoking summer read, Josie Brown’s “The Baby Planner” is the one to pack in your beach bag." -- Examiner.com
"The Baby Planner by Josie Brown is the LOL, completely satisfying story of a thirty-seven-year-old baby planner whose own biological clock is ticking off the charts faster than you can say designer stroller. (I could definitely relate- having my first baby, er, a little later in life.) I first fell for Josie Brown when I read her delicious novel, Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives and The Baby Planner reminded me yet again why I look forward to Josie Brown's novels with the anticipation of a kid on Christmas Eve." -- Lisa Steinke, Unabashedly Bookish, the BN Community Blog
"We love Josie Brown. Plain and simple. We first fell for her when we read the impossibly delicious, Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives and now we’re falling all over again after consuming her latest fun, funny and completely satisfying novel, The Baby Planner." -- ChickLitIsNotDead.com
"Fun with a bittersweet twist, The Baby Planner will have you putting the kids to bed early so you can put your feet up and dive into this delicious read." --SheKnows.com / "Five Books Moms Will Devour"
"If you are looking for a comedic, red-hot page turner to get you in reading mode and away from the pull-up accidents and intense head pain that can accompany parenthood, The Baby Planner fits the bill quite nicely. Katie Johnson is THE baby planner. With a never-ending list of entertaining and often heartbreaking clients plus a non-stop roller coaster ride of plot twists, The Baby Planner will keep you invested and guessing until the very end. A great reading pick for the modern woman and of course today’s ultra hip Mommies. Moms will connect in a big way to some of the experiences within its pages and love the different scenarios of parenting represented. Somehow the book manages to be a laugh out loud, tear jerking suspense novel all wrapped into one. Will Katie ever get “her” baby or will she have to be satisfied with planning every other birth to perfection? To find out you’ll have to read The Baby Planner -- Stiletto Storytime
"...The other things I loved about "The Baby Planner" were the how realistic the characters seemed, the humor value and the way Ms. Brown was able to get the reader to connect to and sympathize with Katie. Ms. Brown never uses exaggeration to get her point across. Her characters thrive on their own and take on various personalities, based on their role in the story. They always give off a familiar feel that makes me think they're standing right in front of me. The humor is pretty obvious and altogether enjoyable. It doesn't feel forced at all. There's a certain sarcasm to it, as well. (Plus, I love that she referenced a Jen Lancaster novel. You'll know it when you see it.) Finally, Katie is down to earth, but also going through the longing for children that many women can relate to. And even if they can't, she's still someone you want to hug, laugh with and cry with, all at the same time. I love how she keeps herself together when she has to, but also shows her vulnerable side." --Chick Lit Central.
"For me, the whole idea of the Making Mommies Smile [baby planner consulting] company provided the comic relief. Pregnancy and all its craziness just lends itself to funny situations. But [Josie Brown's book, The Baby Planner] seemed to be less about Katie’s new company and more about family. What is family? What family do we want? Can we choose our family? Because The Baby Planner poses situations and questions that we can all relate to, it can become a very personal book. What would I do? How far would I go? What would be a deal breaker for me? Cheers to author Josie Brown for not making Katie a perfect heroine. She makes some questionable choices (don’t we all?) that just make her more believable. Even though the whole Making Mommies Smile [baby planner consulting company] idea is a little unreal for me, a reader from middle class America, Brown succeeds in keeping the plotline believable. Not everyone gets a happy ending, not everyone turns into a nice person at the end, and most of the characters are flailing around saying “I don’t know what I’m doing.” Sound familiar? I think I said that just yesterday. If you’re lining up books for the beach The Baby Planner might be one to put on your list." -- Words by Webb
"The Baby Planner is a wonderful novel for anyone who enjoys a great pregnancy story, or several. Taking the concept of a wedding planning and twisting it for prenatal crowd works well and leads to funny and emotional scenes. Katie is a wonderfully full character. Longing for a baby, but married to man who refuses to impregnate her, Katie fills the void by helping other women get ready for their own children. Having no real life experience, beyond being an involved aunt, she starts her business and quickly finds a niche market that never knew it was waiting for her. Through Katie's work, readers will experience multiple pregnancy situations - all of which lead to surprising ends...The Baby Planner is unique and thought-provoking at times. Laughter and tears come easily and often. You may not always agree with Katie's decisions, but you'll care about her from the very first pages.The Baby Planner is the perfect next step for chick lit fans leaving singledom and entering babyville."
-- ReadingWithTequila.com
"I related to [the heroine] Katie big-time. One of Josie Brown's biggest strengths as a writer is that her characters are so very real - from their flaws to their crowning glories, they are authentic, with easily relatable emotions and paths in life that you can see your friends or yourself taking. They aren't perfect - who among us is, after all? - but they are perfectly human, and that's what I loved about this book.
I found myself reading well into the wee hours, because I just couldn't desert Katie when things were going wrong for her, and I wanted to be there to see it when things took a turn for the better. My heart raced with her when her new business exploded on the internet, and I had a few laugh-out-loud moments at some of the crazy occurances that went along with trying to organize a whole bunch of mothers and babies and husbands and other siblings that came along with the territory.
I shouldn't have been so scared of this book. Any woman who has experienced infertility, child loss, or any other stumbling block on the way to motherhood will understand Katie and be able to relate to her struggles. Even when she is sabotaging herself.
Full of fun dialogue, a fascinating cast of characters and more than a few surprise twists and turns, The Baby Planner is an excellent read and I recommend it highly." -- Write Here, Write Now
"In the tradition of the best women's fiction, Katie draws us in as well. Just as she befriends the soon-to-be parents, she endears herself to us. She's the sort of person that we'd love to know and to welcome into our lives. Her optimism and energy make Katie Johnson such a compelling and sympathetic lead character - just the sort to propel the novel forward.When Katie faces the worst possible day of her life -- her worst nightmares all come true -- she still doesn't sink into an annoying caricature of herself. Instead, she behaves with integrity and humor. The Baby Planner
"Katie as a character is enthusiastic, optimistic, and charming. When she addresses the reader directly, what could have felt like a break in the narration feels more like a response in a cozy, chatty conversation...The other characters are more of an ensemble supporting cast and most recognizable through their quirks and foibles. But all of these women, and indeed the other characters, are immediately recognizable and different, allowing Katie's character, through her interactions with them, to show fully...The novel comes across as a very beachy, fluffy read but still tackles some pretty weighty topics: secrets, love, what defines a family, marriage and the decisions made between husbands and wives, genetics and all the things that medicine still doesn't know or understand being just a few....Book clubs wanting a have an accessible but still discussable book during the lazy summer months would find this a good option." -- BookNAround
With a (baby) boomin’ business, Katie appears to have it all together. But keeping up appearances in front of clients, friends, family, and even her husband, soon proves difficult. While some closing doors direct her down hallways that ultimately dead end in more disappointment, others lead to open windows and new beginnings…
As her story unfolds (or rather coils and twists!), Katie learns that best laid plans are rarely successful, and that spontaneity—a trait all to unfamiliar to this serial “planner”—is sometimes the only remaining option.
This book is split into trimesters (what an adorable, clever idea!), and features a celebrity parenthood quote at the start of each chapter. The Readers Guide is perfect for a book club, or for your own consideration. Whether you’re spending your summers lounging and reading by the pool, or sneaking a chapter in as the kids nap, you’ll want The Baby Planner in your To-Read pile.'' -- Crib Notes
"This novel was exceptional chick lit. It was simply fun read. And although it’s mostly light-hearted, there were some serious issues and struggles that most women go through. You feel for Katie when she fights with her husband about having a baby, feel proud of her when her business really booms and root for her throughout the entire book." -- LitFestMagazine.com
"Don't be fooled by the title, this novel is not a fluffy novel, it has depth and some very compelling characters. I was immediately drawn into this story and how all of the characters stories revolved around babies. All the characters journeys were so different, but the story moved along quite nicely. I may not have always agreed with Katie and her methods with her husband, but I understand where the desperate desire to have a family can come from. Josie really captures what is like to be a mother, the good and the bad. She really gets to the heart of the issues women face and the emotions they feel. At times her writing is quite moving. This story is about so much; family, love, parenting, marriage, loss, and betrayal in several forms. This novel has some unexpected twists and turns and will definitely leave you wanting more from Josie Brown. I rate this book 4.5 stars! -- Mrs. Mommy Booknerd
"I’d like to have children one day, so occasionally I flip through pregnancy books and find myself overwhelmed by all the work to be done before a bundle-of-joy arrives. In The Baby Planner, Josie Brown’s protagonist, Katie Johnson, finds herself in the midst of delightful chaos. Thanks to a nudge from her sisters, every pregnant woman in San Francisco calls her to handle their to-do-before-baby-arrives lists. The only thing that could make her happier would be convincing her husband they need a child of their own. But when Seth, a widowed single dad, becomes her newest client, Katie must grapple with the realization that sometimes you can’t plan for everything. This fun read is filled with characters you can root for and twists and turns galore. Plan on picking up a copy today! —Jessica's Picks, Changing Hands Bookstore, Tempe, AZ
"The Baby Planner is a quick chick lit read dealing with a serious subject matter. Katie is a likable character although the reader may not support all of her decisions. She desperately wants a baby with Alex and as a result makes emotional choices. The Baby Planner is a look into what makes a family. Recommended." -- Me, My Book and the Couch
"Katie’s motives for starting this business are less than altruistic; she’s attempting to fill a void as her husband refuses to have a child with her (he already has a son he never sees). The Baby Planner is quite entertaining with Katie finding herself in many hilarious (and some heartbreaking) moments with her varied clients.Josie Brown has crafted an amusing novel about a woman so desperate for a child of her own that she resorts to deception." -- My Book Views
"Josie Brown’s novel, The Baby Planner, is a perfect weekend indulgence...The book is filled with juicy moments that read almost like a gossip magazine, but is balanced by its real depth of the ups and downs of all of life’s relationships." -- LuxuryReading.com
"Katie becomes an instant pregnancy guru in San Francisco. Her website becomes the "go-to" website for expectant mums, and Katie finally finds a career she loves. There's only one problem - Katie, 37, is longing for a child but her husband Adam doesn't want children. Each time Katie approaches the subject with him, he puts it off, and Katie isn't sure what's more important to her anymore - having a baby or being married to Adam. Things get a bit more complicated when Katie becomes attached to her most desperate client, Seth Harris' daughter Sadie. Katie has some serious decisions to make. When I started reading this book I was sure I knew the ending but I was so so wrong. I read it in one day and I loved every page." -- ChickLitClub.
"Josie Brown's The Baby Planner brought fun and more. Through [heroine] Katie and her varied clients, we get to experience the highs and lows of motherhood...with the mommies and wanna-be mommies. Katie's clients cover a great cross section of society all with one goal in mind. The real plot is not the clients and their "struggles," it's the fact that Katie Johnson wants desperately to have her own baby and her non cooperative husband Alex most definitely does not....There's the crux of the situation in Brown's The Baby Planner.
"...Each of her clients is different and a little off kilter, but Katie handles each situation and client with grace and patience that I wish I had. I enjoyed this book immensely, it kept a good pace and though it seems at first like it will play out predictably, it did not, with fantastic, sometimes almost unbelievable result. I myself have no children at this time. It definitely got me thinking though of when that times comes just how much goes into just preparing for motherhood!" - Country Book Bumpkin
"This is just a fun and quick read. I couldn't help but like the protagonist, Katie, who seemed to always have the right answer to assuage any doubts for moms, dads, and critics alike. The story is more complex than The Wedding Planner and provides some unexpected twists and turns which upped my rating by a star. Certainly, there is predictability to a large degree but adding in a couple of surprises gave it depth where it wouldn't have had it.
I also really enjoyed the clever segue Katie's circumstances provided to become a baby planner. From testing baby products for safety infractions to becoming unemployed but willing to overachieve in helping one of her sisters plan for her new pregnancy, the transition is seamless and not at all forced. Most definitely enjoyed the web design interaction although saw it coming.
Cute read but not clean. Katie is trying to get pregnant. There are a number of seduction scenes where Katie uses all everything at her disposal to seduce her husband. It is detailed. Very." -- A Musing Reviews
"I absolutely loved this book! I’ve been ill lately so spending a lot of time laying around and this book was the perfect pick-me-up to keep my mind off everything else and just lose myself into....Of course this novel has the obligatory plot twist. We see some foreshadowing of it earlier in the book, but I didn’t think I knew what was coming until it actually happened and reflected on earlier events. So Ms. Brown put in just the right amount of hints to put the idea into the back of your head of what may happen. Again, I loved The Baby Planner. If I have one complaint, it is that it didn’t last long enough! And it just makes me want more Josie Brown books. So, please, write quickly! We’re waiting!" -- TetheredMommy.com
" I started the book Wednesday morning and finished it at 2:30AM Thursday morning. Needless to say, I couldn't put it down, and got nothing done that day. The story took several unexpected turns and kept me engrossed. Katie is a likable woman and very human. She is happily married and wants a child to make her family and life complete. This book explores the many ways pregnancy and children can affect a person, marriage, and family. Each person's situation and reaction is different and Katie is there to help them all. There are changes going on in her life, many over which she has little control. Her husband, her family, her clients, her friends all want different things for her and from her. Would we react the same way? Make the same decisions? It is good to be reminded that even good people can be pushed too far. The question is, when pushed to the edge, do you hang on or go over.
Josie Brown does a wonderful job depicting people with all their human faults and strengths as well as their relationships with others. Her characters are so well drawn that you react to them as you would to real people. She makes you care what happens to them, no matter how small a part they play in the story. There are no cookie cutter characters here. There are "types" but she gives them all their own individuality. The story flows smoothly, whether following Katie's journey or one of the side plot lines until it comes to an end. She gives us an ending true to life. Not really an ending, but an open door to the rest of the characters' lives.
I am a bit out of what is most likely the target audience for this book. However, I did enjoy it and will be looking for her other book. I'll be passing The Baby Planner along for my daughters to read." - Library Pat
"This is an enjoyable, quick read, with some unexpected (one VERY unexpected and rather shocking) turns... Katie is very likable, even though she DOES stoop to some lows in her quest for a baby...Her adventures with her clients are sometimes sad, but often fun. The ending is perfect as well.Definitely recommended as a fun, entertaining summer/beach-time read." Knitting and Sundries
"I first fell for Josie Brown when I read her delicious novel, Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives and The Baby Planner reminded me yet again why I look forward to Josie Brown's novels with the anticipation of a kid on Christmas Eve." -- Lisa Steinke, Unabashedly Bookish, the BN Community Blog
"The Baby Planner is no longer simply what expecting moms need nor an honorable profession to pursue, it is now a gloriously reviewed novel by author Josie Brown. This entertaining fictional account of an in-the-know baby planner follows her through the trials and tribulations of her professional and personal life as well as all points in between." -- The First 8 Days of Being a Mom
"This is a fun novel that takes a look at motherhood from many angles - those who have a bunch of kids, those who can't have kids, those who find themselves unexpectedly pregnant and those who find their lives in big upheaval with the arrival of baby. One thing is common amongst these women, they need the help of Katie Johnson, baby planner, to navigate them through these times. The book goes beyond the shopping, baby showers and cute baby clothing. It looks at relationships and especially at what happens when life doesn't go the way you have planned..."-- Curled Up with a Good Book
"This novel was exceptional chick lit. It was simply fun read. And although it’s mostly light-hearted, there were some serious issues and struggles that most women go through. You feel for Katie when she fights with her husband about having a baby, feel proud of her when her business really booms and root for her throughout the entire book." -- LitFestMagazine.com
" Author Josie Brown has the reader cheering for [her heroine] Katie...Her diverse array of pregnant clients and their quirks make this book a comical and entertaining read, especially as the book progresses and the clients’ predicaments become tangled. The Baby Planner is a fun, light read that has all the elements of a good chick lit book, but with a unique concept that is intriguing and fresh." -- LibraryBookReview.com
