The Surrogate: A Novel

Married couple Ruth and Hal Olson are eager to have children together, but infertility leads them to seek a surrogate. They select Cally, who is in her early twenties and hoping to use the surrogacy payment to complete her college degree. After the Olson’s baby is born, Cally has a change of heart and escapes from the hospital with her newborn, with the help of her ex-boyfriend, Digger. Ruth is desperate to find Cally and the daughter she’s been dreaming of, and will stop at nothing to find them.

The Surrogate was an intense read with short chapters of alternating perspectives. I couldn’t decide whose side I was on, between Ruth and Cally. Their poor decision-making was stressful yet enthralling. I found both of the main male protagonists, Hal and Digger, very unlikable and aloof, yet essential to the storyline. This book hooked me until the last few chapters, though the ending was a bit too unbelievable and slightly disappointing after all of the dramatic events of the story. The focus on parental rights was very compelling and thought- provoking, and the book was a wild ride!