Book Review: The Antenatal Group by Amy Bratley

Seven months pregnant, Mel is dumped by her partner and is suddenly facing parenthood alone.
But at her antenatal class, she meets a group of women who quickly become invaluable friends in the terrifying new world of birth and babies...
Katy- rich, successful and with the dream husband- has her delivery planned to perfection. But she soon realises that nature doesn't always follow suit.
Lexi, loud and confident, is coping well on her own. Until the only man she has ever loved reappears at the most unexpected moment.
Rebecca is the youngest of the group- not long out of her teens, in fact- but she's determined to hold onto her dreams, even without her family's support.
Erin already seems to be an expert on babies, but her quiet nature hides a secret tragedy.
When you're contemplating pain relief, birth positions and sleepless nights you really need a good friend- or four.

I have been seriously busy with work so I was only able to dip in and out of this book occasionally but I loved it.
The Antenatal Group is the first book by Amy Bratley that I've read but this author had me laughing and crying on several occasions.
Mel, Katy, Lex, Rebecca and Erin are five very different women but they all have something in common, they are about to become first-time mums. The story follows them from antenatal classes, through their five very different labours to the first few months of looking after a newborn.
As a mother of a one year old, this book totally resonated with me. Amy Bratley shows the mixed emotions and experiences of pregnancy and childbirth and then the elation and terror of holding your child and then taking them home.
The characters in this book were very realistic and likeable. I really did feel that the author presented a very honest picture of motherhood while still being entertaining and providing a gripping story.
The Antenatal Group is an excellent read, I would highly recommend it to parents to be or any new mothers who finally have five minutes to pick up a book again!

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5

Pages: 400

Publisher: Pan

Many thanks to the lovely Roisin at Midas PR for sending me a copy of the book to review, The Antenatal Group is out now.