The Choices We Make: A Novel Paperback – July 12, 2016

Summary:Hannah and Kate have been…. well, Hannah and Kate… since the fifth grade- inseparable BFF’s. They found love, married and started trying for families; always clinging to one another along the way. Is it any wonder that when one has trouble getting her heart’s desire- a baby- the other would want to step in?Kate watched her friend try literally everything to start a family for six years. It’s too much, and she doesn’t know if Hannah will survive without the family she wants. She can’t stand seeing her best friend shattered. She herself has a great husband and two healthy girls…. so we know the pieces work, so to speak. Why not contribute to the baby making? With her egg and body to carry the child she sees no reason why this wouldn’t work. Except no one else is on board. It’s too much, there are too many risks…. and would she even be able to give up a baby?The choice seems pretty simple to Kate, but what is brings into everyone’s lives- good and bad- is something no one could ever dreamed of having to handle. Can they make it with relationships in tact? How far would you go to keep your family?My thoughts:This is my online book club read for the month, and I am so glad because I had never heard about it before and I would have been devastated to have missed out on this. This is a gorgeous and heartbreaking tale of two best friends trying to make a family. I liked that it was told in both Hannah and Kate’s POV’s. The premise was amazing and the writing style was smooth and easy to keep track of. The characters were well developed and I adored Kate, David and Ben. I have to admit that I have a love/hate relationship with Hannah.Hannah was hard for me because, while I could relate to her desire, I hated the things she did at times. I hated that she had been willing to go to a surrogate mother without Been or Kate. I mean I know Kate’s just a friend- a best friend since fifth grade!- But Ben’s her husband! She already knew he wasn’t on board. Oh, she feels bad later after every single misstep…. but they are still there. Besides, she is obviously what the other two lives revolve around. Kate wants to do this for Hannah. She isn’t really even comfortable with the title of surrogate, and all the paperwork it involves but she will do this for Hannah. And she stopped taking her migraine meds, talked to her estranged father and had the mother-of-all-fights with David just to make Hannah a mother. I love her for this, but it’s a lot. When mother and child are in danger, Hannah’s first thought isn’t for Kate…. and that upset me too. She did a lot of things in the book I didn’t agree with; and yet it seems entirely in character for someone who had been trying for a baby as desperately as Hannah. Even when the steps were wrong, they were believable and you could see her motivation.In the end, I just loved the book. I loved the emotions, the characters, the plot. I was not ready to let the story go. For me, that is the sign of a fantastic book. It’s five stars all the way.On the adult content scale there’s language and sexual content. It’s not over the top but it is fairly…. descriptive. I give it a six.

The friendship between old friends sets the scene for serious moral themes that ,although most will not encounter, ask how we would handle this situation.

Awesome book. Very well written. Read this if you think your life is going poorly and you have no options.

This riveting book reels you in from the very first page, never letting up until the very end. Hannah and Ben have been trying to have a baby for years, but despite all their best efforts and medical interventions, they have been woefully unsuccessful. Kate has been Hannah's best friend since they were kids, and decides to give Hannah the ultimate gift; she offers to become a surrogate to give her best friend her heart's desire. The friends become even closer during the pregnancy, until a devastating event becomes throws both families into turmoil. The story is told from both women's points of view, adding layers to a story that is already deep and compelling. The author does a brilliant job of portraying both women, along with their husbands, as they experience great joy along with disappointment and fear. Ultimately, this is a beautifully written story about love and loss, friendship and family, and the choices we must make to preserve those things. This is a poignant, heart-wrenching book that packs a powerful emotional punch. With her second book, Karma Brown continues her journey to become a powerful voice as an author, and I look forward to many more books from her!

This is an easy read. The author applies a "hallmark channel" filter over a lot of the interpersonal conflicts which diminishes their authenticity. The flashback sections show a beautiful childhood friendship between the two women but the adult relationship seems a little forced. Almost like they're hanging on for the sake of their childhood memories or to prove to the world that they are model best friends but not because of a deep emotional connection to or understanding of each other.

I really liked this book. It was not a light read but it was steady and I could quickly move through it. There are many interesting ethical and moral dilemmas presented and, even if you had not personally encountered any of the difficulties faced, you could definitely relate to the struggles presented. I choose "dark" as the mood but I was having a hard time deciding between that and "hopeful". I don't think either was completely accurate but both would fit.

Very touching story. Kept me entertained. Never a boring part. Hate the sad ending...dear author I know that's how it works in real life, but I just don't like sad endings like that.

What an amazing story. I definitely do not want to give anything away. But have never been so emotional over a novel. I don't know if it was what Hannah was experiencing through the fertility treatment because I too, experienced this or the way Kate unselfishly wanted to help her best friend. I couldn't put my kindle down. Definitely one of the most emotional books on have read in a long time.

It leaves you in a disturbed state.

La autora cuenta esta historia basándose en su propia experiencia: después de años intentando sin éxito ser madre recibió la oferta de su hermana de convertirse en su vientre de alquiler. Tomando esto como punto de partida Karma Brown nos cuenta la historia de dos amigas que han compartido todo desde la infancia. Ahora Kate tiene dos preciosas niñas mientras Hannah y su marido viven la angustia de dos años de tratamientos de fertilidad fallidos.Después de que Hannah reciba la negativa de una potencial madre del alquiler, Kate decide que será ella la que gestará el hijo de Hannah. Una cuestión sumamente delicada porque además de ser su vientre de alquiler, Kate pondrá también uno de sus propios óvulos (ya que los de su amiga no son aptos para ser fecundados).Kate se queda embarazada en el primer intento. Son gemelos. Unas semanas después descubren desolados que solo uno de los fetos ha conseguido seguir adelante. Pero está sano y fuerte. Después de este mazazo todo transcurre con normalidad hasta el principio del tercer trimestre, cuando sucede algo que ninguno esperaba y que los enfrentará a una de las decisiones más difíciles de sus vidas.____________Un buen libro, fácil de leer. La historia es buena, engancha.Desde el primer momento sabes que algo ha sucedido en ese séptimo mes de embarazo, porque la historia comienza en ese punto para luego volver a 14 meses atrás. Acompañas la historia de las dos amigas y sus familias sabiendo que se acerca ese momento que lo va a cambiar todo.¿Lo mejor? Karma Brown conoce en carne propia el desgaste emocional y físico de los sucesivos tratamientos de fertilidad y consigue comunicar la angustia, la desesperanza. Toda la primera parte, hasta el momento en que sucede lo inesperado, está muy bien contada. Va alternando los puntos de vista de las dos amigas, una en cada capítulo.El problema es que a partir del "punto crítico" ya solo tenemos la visión de Hannah, que está en estado de shock, bloqueada. Por eso los momentos que deberían tener la mayor intensidad emocional están como apagados. Tiene su lógica, pero hace que no sientas de verdad la carga dramática de la situación. Si hubiésemos podido contar también con el punto de vista de la otra parte implicada en las decisiones que se toman a partir de ese momento se habría conseguido un libro mucho más completo.

Karma Brown's latest novel illustrates the joys and traumas of friendship. She has developed a fascinating and true to life account of two friends who deal with a heart-rending situation; one with a great need and one who can fulfill that need.The Choices We Make is written with a masterful use of love,compassion andrealism. No characters are spared of a range of emotions and are utterly vulnerable and real. These people are us.This book should be required reading for anyone who values the importance of a true friend.

Loved it! Quick read but brought many emotions out in me. Looking forward to reading her next book as I have loved her first 2.

Heartwarming and heart-wrenching, The Choices We Make is a novel about friendship and family. You won't want to put this one down as you are drawn into the world of Hannah and Kate. Keep the tissue handy!