This book isn't that story - there's a bit more. This story was well written, mildly entertaining (I read it all the way through), but unfulfilling.Ī few chapters into the book, though I still wanted to keep on reading, I wondered if this was the book an old Madonna movie was based on - girl wants baby, girl has baby by gay best friend, everyone lives happily ever after. I've not read any of Elizabeth Berg's other books, although I want to - her writing draws you in to the characters, her descriptions and dialogues are excellent. All of Berg's characters are generous hearted and morally good.One longs for a touch of vinegar. In fact,this may be the only caveat: there's no dark side,not even a hint of one. Despite the sadness of Patty being unable to fulfill her dream of a relaitonship with Ethan, this is a feel-good book and one likes the characters. Patty is resigned that she may never find 'the love of her life' but she has her child and home and a loving family and friends. The novel concludes with Patty getting together with her friends Elaine and Mark (a former boyfriend of Patty's) and Ethan and his lover Louis. As a subplot, Patty's mother is diagnosed with Alzheimers and the family comes together to cope with this.Patty has the baby and Ethan names her Marilyn after Patty's mom. Patty can't help but hope that Ethan will 'go straight' and be the lover she desires. They finally decide to have a child together and they attempt to live together, but it turns out that primarily Ethan is trying to escape from the depression caused by his many friends dying from AIDs and his grueling experiences in caring for them. She can't help loving Ethan and he loves her too, just not sexually or romantically. The woman, Patty, desperately desires a baby,but isn't willing to settle for a man she doesn't love. They had been connected since childhood, had an affair before he 'came out' and are best friends.

This particular novel is about a 36 year old woman in love with a gay man. Berg's books are extremely readable and her ear for dialogue is remarkable.

Until the real thing comes along book