And yes, the stakes are high. But here’s the surprise that makes this book a modern classic:
At its core, this isn't a "pro-choice" novel—it’s a "pro-friendship" novel. The relationship between Veronica and Bailey is messy, real, and beautiful. They have hurt each other. They have different worldviews. But when the chips are down, Bailey shows up. The evolution of their friendship is the heart of the book, and it will make you want to text your own best friend to say thank you.
What follows is a road trip from hell involving stolen cars, bathroom blowouts, evangelical protestors, a terrifying encounter with a "crisis pregnancy center," and a lot of stolen french fries. 1. The Honesty. So many books tiptoe around the reality of teen pregnancy, often defaulting to the "keep the baby" narrative. Unpregnant does not flinch. It acknowledges that for Veronica, having a baby right now would ruin her life, her dreams, and her mental health. The book treats her choice with absolute respect. It isn't a tragedy; it is a medical procedure and a logistical problem. That normalization is revolutionary. unpregnant libro
Let’s be honest: when you hear the premise of Unpregnant —two teenage girls drive from Missouri to New Mexico for an abortion because the closest clinic is 900 miles away—you might brace yourself for a heavy, somber drama.
Read it. Laugh. Cry. Then call your best friend. Have you read Unpregnant ? Or did you see the movie first? Let me know in the comments below! And yes, the stakes are high
I picked up Unpregnant by Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan expecting a tear-jerker. I put it down feeling empowered, exhausted from laughing, and genuinely emotional. If you haven’t read this gem yet, here is why you need to move it to the top of your TBR pile. Veronica is a straight-A student, a devout member of the academic decathlon team, and has a pristine college application bound for Georgetown. She is not the type of girl who gets pregnant.
It will make you angry at the system. It will make you laugh until you snort. And it will leave you cheering for Veronica and Bailey long after the final page. They have hurt each other
Suddenly, her entire future is hanging by a thread. In Missouri, she needs parental consent to get an abortion. Her parents can’t know. Her boyfriend is a toxic waste dump of a human. And the nearest clinic is a 16-hour drive away.
Enter Bailey. Bailey is Veronica’s former best friend—the loud, queer, punk-rock mess to Veronica’s quiet, preppy order. They haven’t spoken in months after a painful friendship breakup. But Bailey is the only person with a car and a willingness to break the law for a friend.