Book Review~Bumped by Megan McCafferty

If a virus existed that made women infertile after the age of 18, what would would society do to ensure continued procreation? Bumped takes on this premise by describing a society where a teenage girl's highest aspiration is to find the right couple to agree to have a baby for; the wealthier, the better. Some girls even enter into birthing contracts where in exchange for their services they receive a car, college tuition, and sometimes even a tummy tuck after giving birth.

The story centers around a pair of identical twins who were separated at birth. Melody ended up with a well-to-do family in New Jersey while Harmony has been raised in a Pennsylvania religious compound that has girls get married as soon as they are able to have children. Harmony decides to find Melody in an effort to save her. Harmony ends up being mistaken for Melody just as the ultimate partner has been found for her. Chaos ensues while each girl gets the chance to explore how different life could be.

I'm sure many young adults will enjoy this book as it was an easy read. The idea was interesting, but fell short in its delivery for me. Some of the references to the drugs used to make casual sex more comfortable and the masSEX parties where the main aim was for the girls to all get pregnant at the same time were approached too lightly with no mention of the repercussions of such actions.

Thanks to HarperCollins, Balzer + Bray and NetGalley for access to this egalley.