The Babymoon
The Age
Saturday September 20, 2008
The Babymoon
Melanie La'Brooy Michael Joseph, $32.95MELANIE LA'BROOY has become one of the more popular exponents of Australian chick-lit. In The Babymoon she returns to the protagonist of her debut novel, Lovestruck. Isabelle has moved to Melbourne and settled down with partner Dr Jack. When she falls pregnant during a televised AFL match, her life gets humorously hectic. Her wild gestational adventures border on slapstick, while her relationship with Dr Jack becomes strained. And her job - Isabelle works in an exclusive art gallery - provides ample opportunity for acerbic commentary on the pretentiousness of the art world. La'Brooy possesses a froth machine that never runs dry, although you occasionally wish there was more coffee in the cappuccino. Most of her humour is effortless but there's so much burbling comedy that it risks swamping the poignancy for which it should act as a vehicle.
© 2008 The Age