A fantastic read by Jacqueline Wilson. A book on teen pregnancy, consent and adoption, with family and friendships being core to the plot. It was brilliant, heart-breaking and packed full of emotion.

Laura is raised by very strict parents and is heavily influenced by friends who may or may not have her best interests at heart. Unfortunately, she ends up pregnant at 14 years old and sent to a home for pregnant girls, leading them to put their babies up for adoption.

I love the social history side of this story. I believe it was set in the 1960s, where shame was put on the girls for getting themselves in this state......! Laura grew up in a prefab house and I loved that, having seen one recently at Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings. I loved the attitudes of the people in the book and the message it was relaying.

The only bad thing about this book is I've had Baby Love by the Supremes stuck in my head for two weeks!

Not sure why I haven't given feedback on this before as I actually read it upon publication. A stunning look at teen pregnancy in an era where it was very frowned upon. I adored this book and really felt for the characters involved. As expected, Jacqueline Wilson does a stellar job, as she always does.

I was a massive fan of Jacqueline Wilson as a child and when I saw this book available on Netgalley I snapped it up immediately.

The book follows Laura- a 14 year old girl in the 1960s, who, after going to the lido with her friend and meeting a French boy, ends up pregnant. Laura seems a lot younger for her age and you realise that during this interaction with said boy, she has no idea what is happening to her, doesn’t understand, so had no way of knowing whether to say no or not.

It goes to show how little young girls knew about sex education back then. I’m not familiar with that time period as I was born in the 90s but things have definitely changed.

The way everything happens is quite gut wrenching as poor Laura is shunned by her parents, called all sorts of names, and sent away without her say so to a mother and baby unit miles away from home. I felt really sorry for her.

However, the ending was not what I expected. It felt overly happy for a book about such a sad topic. However, Jacqueline Wilson cannot write a bad book and I really enjoyed it.

4/5 stars.
Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

Reading Jacqueline Wilson's writing is like a warm hug or cosy blanket reminding me of my childhood. The plot was well formed and very interesting, I really enjoyed it.

I absolutely loved this book! The premise immediately hooked my interest and it was filled with twisty characters and such intense plot!

I loved Jacqueline Wilson growing up and read everything that she had published so when I saw this on Netgalley I knew I had to request it because I knew I would love it. I am no longer the target audience for this book but just like every other Jacqueline Wilson book, this one is hard-hitting and touches on a lot of different important topics. This book was really emotional at times and I rooted for Laura to be able to find happiness even though she was going through so much. It was definitely a darker book but I really enjoyed reading and felt like I learnt a lot throughout.

Know what? This was my first Jacqueline Wilson book! I know! It certainly won't be my last, I am now off to find her entire back catalogue! I loved this story and the easy way that she writes, even tough subjects. I can't wait to read more!

Jacqueline Wilson is much loved from generation to generation and Baby Love is a perfect example of why her writing remains relevant, eye-opening and entertaining for young and old readers alike. This book manages to feel incredibly real and close, despite its 1960s setting, and there are moments of real heartbreak. A classic Jacqueline Wilson!

I adore Jacqueline Wilson books, and just gives that wave of nostalgia to reading them as a teenager growing up. It was great to be reminded of her writing and issues that she covers in her books. Baby Love would suit that older audience of hers.

🌿BOOK REVIEW🌿

Baby Love by Jacqueline Wilson

Set in the 1960’s, Laura is growing up being the poor kid at her private school after winning a scholarship. She feels completely different to everyone around her and then makes an unlikely friendship in Nina. She struggles knowing that Nina is much wealthier than her, and is embarrassed to allow her in to her home. The pair have a friendship full of bickering, but truly do care for each other. One summer day, Nina and Laura visit the Lido and begin chatting to two French exchange students. When Laura decides it is time for home, Leon generously offers to walk her home and Laura accepts, not knowing her life will change forever.

After being a diehard Jacqueline Wilson fan throughout my childhood, when I saw she was writing a book for older readers I was delighted. I was surprised by the subject matter, but then I have no idea why because by now we should know that Miss Jacqueline will always deliver a deep, compelling storyline.

Laura is caught up in all the typical parts of being a teenager- petty arguments, teen crushes and being fed up of the protectiveness of her parents. Suddenly, Laura is handed a much more serious issue when she finds herself pregnant at 14 years old. She is shunned by her family for bringing them shame, blamed for her stupidity, and sent off to a home for single, teenage mothers.

At this home she makes the deepest of friends with some of the girls, as she wades through the feelings about her pregnancy and decides what she must do in the future. She comes to terms with the fact that young women are always blamed in this situation, and never the man, and begins to focus on her own wishes.

I don’t know what it was, but I found myself struggling to be immersed in this book and at points found myself skimming the pages. Even a few days later I am struggling to put my finger on what it was that I didn’t gel with as it is an important story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

⚠️CW// sexual assault, child abuse, miscarriage, abortion, underage pregnancy

A beautifully written book. Really enjoyed reading this. Thanks to publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read

I LOVED this book.
Jacqueline Wilson never ceases to amaze me.
This book s full of hard topics of adoption and teen pregnancy of what it was like in the 1960s.
At the end of the book there are resources for people to get help which is great.
It also talks about what it was like then and what it is like now.
I think this is such an important book for younger teenagers to read.
Thank you again, Jacqueline Wilson for another great read.
From a young girl myself I was reading your books, and I'm still reading them now.

As a longtime fan of Jacqueline Wilson, I was so excited to hear that she was bringing out a book for older readers! And I was not disappointed by the book at all. It tackled the previously taboo subject of teen pregnancy with such grace, and I really liked the main character and her tenacity. I hope JW continues to bring out books for older readers, because I will definitely be reading them!

Set in the 1960’s, this deals with teenage pregnancy and how this used to be seen in society. An emotional read but I found the issue of consent wasn’t dealt with in the book. However, this to reflect the context it was written in and I was very glad this was dealt with at the end in an afterword for those younger readers. A thought provoking book overall.

I couldn't put this book down once I started. I had no idea I would enjoy it as much as I did. I became so invested into Laura's journey into motherhood. It felt so very real and was such an eye opener to how life was in the 60's and how a girl like Laura was treat. There was so much shame on underage girls who became pregnant either through naivety like Laura or, in the case of some of the other girls in this story, sexual abuse. The girls were seen as a disgrace with people looking down on them, even their own families. I feel that Laura is a very young and naïve 14 year old and because her parents had never talked to her about periods, growing up and sex, she doesn't even know if what happened to her even happened.
I did guess how the story would end but this took nothing away from my enjoyment of the book.

I haven’t read a Jacqueline Wilson book in a few years and it was lovely to read one targeted at older readers. I found her writing to be just as engaging and well-paced as I did when I was a teenager, which surprised me. But I guess this just means she’s just an astounding writer no matter her audience.

Set in 1960, Laura is a poor teenager who lives in a shantytown. She develops a friendship with another girl at school who is much well off than her but isn’t awful about it. Laura becomes a bit infatuated with the girl and her family and you can never blame her, considering her own family, who are lovely but poor and always working (she has no siblings). The girl's family welcomes her and they spend a lot of time during the summer together.

One day, whilst out with her friend at the lido, Laura meets Leon and although she isn’t that interested in him, she does let him walk her home after a tiff with her friend. Leon ends up having sex with Laura, it’s a blurred line of consent as we realise Laura doesn’t actually know what is happening and is therefore never able to say yes or no. This a few months down the line leads to Laura discovering she is pregnant and as the blurb states, it ends up with her being sent away. Maybe it’s because it’s in England (or maybe because it’s a Jacqueline Wilson novel), she isn’t sentenced to a life of gloom in this home for expectant mothers, it’s certainly not the best but it isn’t the tales from those horrible Irish nuns convent. Laura comes across all sorts of girls here and they all share their tales and deal with the harsh opinions of older women and the realities of what having a baby this young can mean.

I enjoyed the story, I thought it was well-paced and one thing I’m extremely happy about is the time we got to spend with Laura before she finds out she is pregnant, as we really get to know her. There is so much time dedicated to the time she spends by herself, her thoughts, her time with her best friend, her crush on her best friend's brother and the different outings they have and just generally Laura changing. I thought Laura was a lot younger than she was (she is fourteen) because her thoughts about things and behaviours seem childish. It horrified me to think that no one had ever spoken to her about sex, even getting her period was a very short-lived conversation. Laura’s life really illustrates the dangers of not explaining things to your child in an age-appropriate manner (her parents didn’t explain anything) but expecting them to be “chaste”. Wilson did an excellent job of framing Laura to the reader, so when the encounter with Leon happens, you truly believe she had no idea of what had just occurred. She felt shame around it but couldn’t figure out what had happened and therefore couldn’t talk to anyone about it. Once her parents find out, it’s her mum that’s the leading party in talking about the shame she has brought upon the family. Her dad is no better, but he actively avoids her. The doctor who examines her also imprints more shame on Laura.
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I found the time Laura spent in the house of expectant mothers okay, it felt a bit like reading about boarding school but also dealing with the realities of parents who had shamed them and boys who had let them down. Laura herself does grow as a character when she thinks about the expectation placed on her vs Leon, but that is briefly stated and then never mentioned again really. The book ends up focusing on the bond between mothers and babies, and whilst I didn’t fully believe that Laura had the capacity for some of the realisations she had, I do think that could just be my scepticism. She lived in a place where there wasn’t much hope and perhaps, she developed much more than I’ve given her grace for. The ending was sweet and surprisingly something I saw coming. However, it was good for Laura and I think Wilson did a great job of showing other not so great endings for other women in the book for us to believe that Laura’s could be one of the good ones.
This book also ended by talking about the topic of consent and adoption, in partnership with two relevant charities. They talk about it in the context of the book and it ends with website and phone numbers for support. I do remember books having relevant numbers and websites for difficult topics they addressed, but it was great to see them talking about what was in the book and discussing that specific case.

A lovely read overall and this really makes me want to dive into some of my old Wilson favourites!

As a huge fan of Jacqueline Wilson books growing up, ai was thrilled to be approved to read her latest title, Baby Love, on NetGalley.

For slightly older teen readers, Baby Love is set in the 1960s and is about Laura. A bright grammar school girl from a poor neighbourhood, she tries hard to keep friendships and deal with her mother’s anxieties. At fourteen years old, Laura ends up pregnant and is sent to a mother and baby house far from home. She wants to keep her baby, not out them up for adoption, but everyone seems to be against the decision. What can she do?

A story full of heart and warmth, but also heartbreakingly sad, Wilson has certainly not lost her skill of writing complex situations with unflinching honesty yet an unparalleled approachability.

I felt such compassion for Laura, who, if caught in the same predicament today would have a wealth of support available to her. Instead, she is sent away from the only home she has ever known, shunned by her family, and left to deal with adult emotions and a heart wrenching decision all alone.

It does not escape me either that all responsibility, shame and guilt lies solely on the pregnant woman, rather than ask questions of the absent father. Infuriating but sadly an accurate portrait of the time.

A great way of introducing social history to young teens in a relatable way.

True to Wilson’s commitment to knowledge and understanding, there are several sections at the end of the book relating to adoption and consent which again is another way of introducing these topics in an approachable way.

Another fantastic book by a legend of children’s literature.

Jacqueline Wilson was one of the authors that completely ignited my love for reading. There has always been something so special and comforting about her writing that I think few other authors match. When I saw posts about Baby Love being released, I was beyond excited. I couldn't wait to dive back into her wonderful world and be enveloped in the warmth her books just ooze.

Baby Love was everything I hoped for and more. While Jaqueline tells quite a horrific story it is done with beauty and care. The connection you feel with all of the characters is almost immediate and you can't help but feel your own heart break throughout the book. As always Jaqueline has this innate ability to weave an uncomfortable topic into a story that can be understood and felt by all.

The book looks at quite challenging topics such as consent, abuse and forced adoption yet does so in a way which a younger reader will be able to absorb it without being traumatised. I will always wonder at her ability to understand and translate such tough subjects and emotions into her words so beautifully.

Reading Jacqueline's work again has really made me think about why we stop reading certain authors at specific ages. Wilson is considered a children's and occasionally young adult writer, so should we stop reading books that engage and comfort us just because we've 'outgrown' their age range? In the last year I've found a love for YA books and I hope this year I will rekindle my love for more of Wilson's work.

A beautiful, powerful yet tender tale which should be read by all ages.

In 1960, teenager Laura meets French exchange student Leon at the local lido. A boy has never been interested in her before, so she’s flattered by his attentions but one night, her life changes forever. Full of shame, her family send Laura away to a place full of girls just like her. A place where young, expectant mothers have only each other left to rely on.

Fully immersed in the 1960s, Baby Love introduces readers to very real, vulnerable characters and the intense emotions that come with being a young, abandoned, expectant mother. It ends on a note of hope, which I thoroughly appreciated because I spent most of the narrative worried that it wouldn't! Celebrating the unique bond between mothers and their babies, Baby Love is a beautiful, heartbreaking yet uplifting novel that shows that Wilson is unstoppable and still one of the greatest living writers for young people.

Baby Love is a hard hitting teen story of first’s, and a harsh look at the realities some went through in a turbulent time.
Many Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overview:
In 1960’s Britain, Teenager Laura tackles the difficulties of growing up. It becomes even more muddled when a miscommunication with a French exchange student leads to the unimaginable- Laura becoming pregnant at 14. As she delves into herself to figure out what to do- and is sent away by her family to a mothers home, where she will learn more about others like her- and the true realities for a teenage mum-to-be in this turbulent time whilst forging close to unbreakable bonds along the way.

Review:
Plot and World building- I have grown up reading Jacqueline Wilson books, as a younger reader it was all about Tracy beaker, and as a teen I fell hard for Love Lessons and My Sister Jodie so to say I was eagerly anticipating a return to Wilson’s writing was an understatement. Before I start- This book does have content warnings and is definitely for older teens as it discusses topics of consent, teenage pregnancy and childbirth.

I have a general knowledge around the history of teenage pregnancies in the 60’s courtesy of my grandparents, and Wilson tackles such difficult topics in this book, including consent, in such a dynamic and thought provoking way for older teen readers in this book it which is something I greatly appreciate.

The plot overall was well planned and executed, it took me a while to truly engage but overall was extremely interesting and engaging for me. There was one point, without spoilers, I’m surprised didn’t happen and thought the book was building up to- but might just be my thought processes. Pacing was quite slow initially but as it picked up made the story much easier to read.

Characters
Laura is a naïve, quite babyfied darling of a child in this book. That is reflected in her actions and prose thought process throughout and initially irked me as she seemed more towards the 10 year old mind-set than 14. As she makes friends, comes into herself and realises more of the world to become more adult its quite gratifying to see her grow. She realises the mistakes, the decisions and the struggle decisions can be and honestly her development throughout from innocent naivety to mother was extremely well executed. Honestly I was so happy that she, unlike many, got a good ending in this situation she was in.

Her Family members were extremely frustrating and quite, how to put this, way too much about appearances, for me personally… but as it reflected the time period so I can understand this and their interactions and relationship with Laura.

Final Thoughts,
Expertly and deftly developed and executed, a story of love in a difficult time and situation.