Review: Then Came You

Then Came You

By Jennifer Weiner

Atria Books July 2011

336 pages

From the library

People say that motherhood changes a woman forever. Sometimes that change takes different forms - Jules sells her eggs to a fertility clinic, Annie becomes a surrogate, and India hopes to finally have a happy family. But happy endings don't come easily for everyone. When India's stepdaughter Bettina hires a private investigator to look into India's past, the hopes of all four women could come crashing down. 

Weiner writes from the point of view of four very different women. Jules is a young woman whose life has been thrown into shambles by her father's addiction. She tries to blend in with her Princeton classmates, but her pretty face and good grades can't disguise her desperation for a stable home life. Annie is a young mother of two whose husband is barely making enough money to pay the bills. India is living in the lap of luxury as the trophy wife of a wealthy older husband. She is the scorn of her stepdaughter Bettina, who cannot understand what her father sees in India. Unfortunately, these characters often feel like stereotypes. I was especially frustrated by India. She seemed like such a cliche of the gold digger and when we finally get some of her background story, it feels an information dump and much too late to redeem the rest of her story.

That being said, there are some positives about this book. There are several moments of genuine emotion as the women navigate love and family. One of my favorite bonds in this story is the one between Annie and India. While it is perhaps normal for a woman to take an interest in the surrogate carrying her child and pay for her expenses, India and Annie really become friends. India sees how Annie is struggling with her husband and their inability to pay the bills. She hires a cleaning lady for her, takes Annie on a vacation, and lends a listening ear when Annie needs to vent. In return, India feels like she has actually met someone who cares about her, and not just about her fortune.

Then Came You is an engaging read. The action moves quickly and it is a well-written book. I just found myself wanting more. I wanted characters who seemed like they could be real people. And I suppose, as someone who recently had her second child, I wanted Weiner to really tap into the awe and wonder of parenthood. Unfortunately, I think there are other books that will resonate better with readers living through the pain and joy of parenting.