Freshman Forty by Christine Duval Book Tour Review

When eighteen year old Laurel Harris discovers she’s pregnant four weeks into the start of her freshman year at prestigious Colman College, she has all intentions of telling her father. But being away at school makes it too easy to hide. And while she can’t explain to her friends, or to herself even, the reasons why she doesn’t want the baby’s father to find out about the pregnancy, the rest of her world begins to unravel.

Freshman year is hard enough. Most girls get through by forming close friendships, finding new boys and a phone call from mom or dad on Sunday. Laurel has to navigate all of it while hiding an unplanned pregnancy from a summer fling...

An imperfect heroine plagued by bad choices and haunted by the memory of her deceased mother and grandparents, readers are sure to identify with Laurel as she navigates teen pregnancy, in secret, in a remote college setting


Laurel is a freshman in college. Before leaving to begin her new academic pursuits, escaping her cold, distant father, the memory of her deceased mother and grandparents, Laurel is now pregnant. She's left the baby's father behind, with no relationship to speak of, just casual sex between two friends.

Laurel is conflicted. She knows that emotionally and financially she won't be able to cope with being a single mother at only eighteen years old. But after an antagonising decision, she can't bring herself to abort the pregnancy, or offer the baby up for adoption. She refuses to use her father's insurance for her appointments, and hides her pregnancy from her father, friends and from the charismatic Mike.

As the months fly by, Laurel finds herself immersed in doctor's appointments and a support group for teen mothers. Besides the medical staff, the only people in Laural's life that know are Mike, and her biology professor. When Laurel finally works up the courage to confront her father, he has life changing news of his own, starting with moving Laurel out of his apartment.

As her due date creeps up, Laurel knows that she can't keep the baby a secret any longer, she needs support. But when complications arise before her due date, she'll be forced to share her secret.
Of a baby that will change her life forever.

Freshman Forty is one young woman's emotional pregnancy journey, from the day she finds out she's expecting. The emotions that she experiences are exasperating, but realistic. My only complaint is that I had wished it were longer. I would love to see what becomes of  Laurel's character five or even ten years from now.

I'm not a mother yet, but found the delivery chapter very emotional. It was ultimately a beautiful novella about bringing a new life into the world.

Goodreads
Freshman Forty
Written By Christine Duval
Published 21 / 02 / 2013
185 Pages 


Thank you to Xpresso book tours
You can purchase Freshman Forty on Amazon


Christine Duval has been writing creatively since the fourth grade when she penned her first short story entitled "London Terror," about the murder of a cat in London. She grew up on the North Shore of Long Island and lived in Italy twice as a teenager: once when she was sixteen in Bologna and in a small town on the Adriatic Sea called Porto San Giorgio; then in Florence when she was nineteen. Her parents wondered if she'd ever come back.

College was spent in the Finger Lakes: the inspiration for Colman, Milton, and Kashong Lake in Freshman Forty. It really is cold, wet and grey there - OFTEN! But when the sun comes out, boy is it pretty.

Life eventually took her to New York's Upper West Side, the place she'll always consider home. Though for now she resides in New Jersey with her family and a very spoiled love bird who can't decide if he's a boy or she's a girl.

You can find Christine via Her Website  Goodreads  and  Twitter  

2 comments

  1. I actually haven't read that many books about pregnancy - teen or college - but I think I'd really like. Great review! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Giselle,
    Me either, now that I think about it. Apart from the epilogues in most new adult releases. It was really quite good.

    *waves* thanks for popping by.

    ReplyDelete

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