Review: Until the Real Thing Comes Along by Elizabeth Berg

Review by DivaBetty
Rating 4 strips of bacon--good enough to read more than once but not without flaws

The Premise:  Thirtysomething Patty Murphy is an unsuccessful realtor who feels doomed to be alone forever. She isn't lonely though--she has the friendship of bestie Ethan, the handsome gay man she has loved since childhood. Her yearning for family life--a husband and a houseful of kids--leads her to decide that she wants a baby, with Ethan.

The Review:  Before you start groaning about Will & Grace, trust me this is not that sitcom.

Patty is immediately lovable, wry, and honest. She knows what she wants and takes steps to get it. She is a big-hearted character struggling toward maturity and happiness.

Her lovely and humorous observations about her dream life--grocery shopping with four kids, nap time, cooking big suppers--highlight her desire for kids realistically--she loves children and knows how hard it will be. After some bickering, Ethan assents and they make a baby. She's pregnant for most of the book so this is not a spoiler.

My problem is Ethan. When Berg "Tells" about their relationship, it's golden and bewitching to read. When she "Shows", Ethan seems exasperated with Patty's enduring love for him and is, at best, grumpy. He wants the baby for his own reasons and I think truly wishes he and Patty could have been together in different circumstances. But I'm editorializing because, until right at the end of the book, he's not all that lovable himself.

This was my gateway drug to Elizabeth Berg. Her writing is gorgeous and as the highest praise I can give her, she's truly an author of women. Her female characters are layered and behave realistically.

This book is wonderful (dh adores it, calls it The Baby Feet Book because of the cover). But be warned it is not a fluffy chick lit romp.

Interesting Factoid:  The story was optioned by Goldie Hawn in the 90's to develop into a star vehicle for her. God save us all from such a day. I cannot imagine what she would have done with this role except make it intolerably shallow with bubbliness. Ugh.