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Summary: Finally a pregnancy book that doesn't scare your pants off!
Review: I have to say that I read all the reviews for this book and despite those few not so nice ones I ordered the book anyway. Like any first time mom to be I wanted as much information on this whole pregnancy that I am going through. After reading many very helpful books ex: What To Expect When You Are Expecting and many more, I found the Girlfriends Guide to be a nice break. She states many times that she is not a doctor so you must read this with a light attitude and don't dive to deep for medical advice because it is not there. Since reading this book I have bought two more copies as gifts to my other pregnant friends who are spending to much time getting the pants scared off of them by the more serious books.
Both my husband and I have found this to be a good book that understands what you are going through and makes you be able to laugh about some of the not so lady like things that are happening to your body.
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Summary: So funny and true
Review: I had a miserable pregnancy,non stop pukiness for 42 weeks, torn ligaments causing bed rest, a zillion trips to the lab to monitor a thyroid that refused to regulate, about 9 sonos and 4 non stress tests, etc, etc followed by a c-section with complications and a long, slow recovery with a big 10 pound, hungry, healthy colicy baby that required non stop feeding and rocking for 4 months. From the begining of my pregnancy til well into my sons first year Vicki kept me entertained. Her books were wonderful and I loved reading parts to my husband who often didn't see the humor. I recomend all her books, she's honest and amusing and easy to read.I'll read them over again next pregnancy.
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Summary: cute book
Review: I was placed on bed rest for the last two months of my pregnancy and this book was very lighthearted. I enjoyed the reading.
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Summary: This book rocks! A must!
Review: Yes, the author is opinionated. Yes, she believes in epidurals. But she only throws ideas out there. In a most hilarious and amusing way. She shares her experiences and her opinions and tells you what to expect. I can't imagine getting this information from any other pregnancy book. And many women are probably too embarrassed to tell you a lot of what she imparts: The nitty gritty gross stuff that comes with pregnancy and giving birth. Unfortunately, I read this book FIRST of the three I bought, and now the other two seem SO dry and sterile. You should definitely have this book. Not getting it is doing a huge disservice to yourself. And it's a great, fun read. I laughed out loud in several places!!
Rating: 
Summary: Too Cutesy and Juvenile
Review: I bought this book because there were so many great reviews of it on Amazon.com. I have been very disappointed. As a 38-year-old who is pregnant for the first time, I found this book way too cutesy and geared toward perhaps, a younger audience. Maybe I'm just too old for the "girlfriend" program. I found the "girlfiend" humor alittle irritating after awhile. Being over-35, I want sound medical advice and information on what's happening to my body. The section on pre-natal testing, for example, was too full of fluff and personal opinions to give me a realistic view of my options and what I should choose. That said, the book is not completely without merit. For example, I liked the part about maternity wardrobes. It gave me some excellent ideas. Also, the Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy Diary (a separate book) is excellent. I really enjoy the format of that, especially the countdown to motherhood and the fact that I can just jot down a few impressions of how I'm feeling now. Other such diaries involved so much potential writing, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep up!
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Summary: Full of laughs - all the things no one ever tells you!!!!!
Review: I loved this book!! Read it while pregnant with both our daughters, 13 months apart; and read lots of it to my husband during our first pregnancy. It really gave us lots of laughs, and sometimes made me want to cry, with all the truths put in a down to earth, light hearted way. It helps you realize that you ARE NORMAL with ALL the things your body, brain, & emotions are going thru!!! I read it alternating it with all the medical books out there & it was very refreshing. The honesty was right on the money, and as any Mom can tell you, it's comforting (most of the time) to know that we are not alone in this pregnancy state of body & mind. I received the book as a gift during my first pregnancy & have given it to several of my girlfriends & we all love it!!! I also highly recommend her "How to Survive the First Year of Motherhood" - I only wish I knew the book was out there during my first year - it takes all the funky things that go on during that first year, body & mind & Motherhood, and lets you know everyone, or most, Moms experience & feel all these same things - which is very important during those first few months of parenthood!!! Reading it, I just kept thinking, "well, that's the truth" & "hey, that's what I went thru - I am normal!!!"
Rating: 
Summary: Humorous, but needs to be taken with a grain of salt
Review: I read this book early in my pregnancy, and I laughed and laughed. I even read parts of it aloud to my husband, and even he would laugh at some of it. It's a nice distraction from the medically minded, formal, "This is what's happening to your body and baby right now" books that I had been reading (which are great, but get tiresome). However, I disagreed a lot with her principles and the way she stated them made her seem small and petty. She is a thin, wealthy, stereotypical southern CA mom who has only models and other rich, beautiful women for friends. While what she says is true about our bodies, her attitude that our bodies are the most important thing and we shouldn't let the baby ruin our looks is revolting. Her complete attitude of "trust your doctor and never ask why" is a huge insult to the entirety of women. She doesn't offer options (such as NOT getting an episiotomy, not delivering flat on your back with your feet up, not getting an epidural, etc.) and she states HER views on childbirth and her experiences as the only fact that there is. However, if you can look past her terrible medical mindset (she admits it's not a medical book) and the fact that all of her friends are self absorbed, rich supermodels, this book can be a great hilarious relief to the medical books that are out there for pregnancy.
Rating: 
Summary: Ridiculous...
Review: If you're looking for a humor book, something to make you laugh, this book is right up your alley. If you're looking for a book that actually gives you well-researched, *safe* and healthy advice for you and your baby -- Ms. Iovine's glib and dangerously inaccurate throwaway quips about everything from c-sections to breastfeeding are mind-boggling in their wrongness -- please go read "A Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer instead. Again, this is a humor book. Whether you find Ms. Iovine's sense of humor actually funny or if you find her complete cluelessness about real pregnancy and birth issues laughable, that's your call. But please don't count on this woman for sound pregnancy advice.
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Summary: Don't Risk It
Review: This is a well-written, humorous book and it is much different from the other pregnancy books. There is some good advice about what to wear when you're pregnant (although nowadays there are so many nice maternity clothing stores out there) but my objection is that she basically tells the pregnant woman not to worry too much about following all of the nutrition, etc. guidlines given in most other pregnancy books. I read this during my first pregnancy and thought there was something appealing to the carefree approach Vicki takes in the book. However, I can not get over the guilt from having a miscarriage with that pregnancy. Had I followed the other, more strict-types of pregnancy books I may not have felt quite as guilty, whether or not that would even have anything to do with it. Vicki does mention that many of her friends have had miscarriages; however, I believe she states that she never has. It may be easier to take such a light attitude towards pregnancy when one has never experienced a miscarriage.
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Summary: A little humor might ease the pre- and postpartum dementia
Review: I laughed out loud throughout both of Iovine's books. She is just so funny at three in the morning. And after the doom and gloom of the "What to Expect" series, she was at least encouraging. You'll survive all this, albeit with a few stretch marks. I liked how she focuses on the mother and makes you feel a little more normal while your body is being taken over by aliens. Think Sigourney Weaver. All in all, these are more humor than how-to books, though I'm looking forward to the toddler sequel. If you want a how-to manual, see Dr. Sears series (love the attachment parenting perspective).
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