This is a short listen. Only 38 minutes of your life. But it is deep and impactful. You’ll laugh, but you will also feel changed in less than an hour of your time.
About the Book
Margot and James are done—for real this time. Their breakup was sealed when James made it clear: he never wants children.
But on the most important morning of his career, James—an ambitious lawyer at a prestigious firm—wakes to find himself inexplicably pregnant, part of a baffling epidemic sweeping the nation. As his condition becomes impossible to hide, James is denied a long-anticipated promotion, leaving him spiralling.
Across town, Margot, a dedicated social worker, faces the flood of frightened, pregnant teenage boys seeking answers no one has. When James calls her in desperation, Margot is forced to confront not only their shared past but the harsh reality of navigating a post-Roe America—where the personal has become terrifyingly political.
My Thoughts
While it has its funny images – as the “so-called” fairer sex haven’t we all laughed imagining the “what-ifs” if men had to carry the babies? Joked about how much better this or that aspect of healthcare would be if men got periods?
Well, Jodi Picoult, who doesn’t shy away from the tough topics, took those jokes and ran with them. And, she did it during a season when most of us couldn’t stand to joke about it. Because she continues to be really great at taking the tough topics and dissecting them. Turning them on their head, and attempting to milk them for all they’re worth. I listened to this almost four years ago when it came out, but I’m pretty sure my heart and brain couldn’t figure out how to digest it and say anything about it, which is how I missed reviewing it then. Honestly, it’s still hard, which is why this book is still important. And why you should still grab it now!
So, go, listen to it now. Whether you’re a man or woman, chances are you love someone who could have a baby. And wherever you live, this book could be relevant to someone you know. The strong one-two punch of social commentary doesn’t need me to wax poetic and fill your feed with more words. Listen now. It’s worth all 38 minutes, and at least one re-listen, if not more.
I’m so grateful to the author, narrator, and LBT for including me in this tour. And I’m so proud of LBT to have been commissioned by such a big-name author!
Who’s It For?
If you love Jodi Picoult, you’ll love this. It’s the exact sort of writing you’ve come to love from her. It’s a big, complicated story in a small package, and it packs a huge punch. I had to listen to twice to really get the impact, and it’s short enough for that to be practical.
Content Warnings: Pregnancy, Pregnancy Loss, Abortion, Women’s Healthcare, Adult Situations, Adult Language, Teen Pregnancy, Suicide, And More.
Please note: This content is intended for adult audiences. It addresses themes of pregnancy loss and may be distressing to some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.
About the Author
Jodi Picoult is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-nine novels, including most recently the #1 bestseller BY ANY OTHER NAME. Her landmark novel 19 MINUTES was recently deemed the most banned book in the Unites States in a recent report conducted by PEN America.
Picoult’s books have been translated into thirty-four languages. Her two YA novels, Between the Lines and Off the Page, co-written with her daughter Samantha Van Leer, have been adapted by the authors into a musical entitled Between the Lines.
She is also the co-librettist of the musical, Breathe, and a musical adaptation of The Book Thief, based on the international bestselling novel by Markus Zusak, which premiered in the UK in September 2022. Her co-adaptation of the musical Austenland is currently in development.
Picoult is the recipient of many awards, including the New England Bookseller Award for Fiction, the Alex Awards from the YALSA, a lifetime achievement award for mainstream fiction from the Romance Writers of America, the NH Literary Award for Outstanding Literary Merit and esteemed Sarah Josepha Hale Award. She was the recipient of the 2024 Free Speech Defender Robie Harris Author Award from the National Coalition Against Censorship. She holds honorary doctor of letters degrees from Dartmouth College and the University of New Haven. She is a patron of the Carole Shields Prize for Fiction which is awarded to female fiction writers. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for PEN America.
Picoult lives in New Hampshire with her husband. They have three children and two grandchildren.
Links
Audible US: https://www.amazon.com/Audible-Choice/dp/B0B1JP41GV/
Audible UK: https://amzn.to/4in95ip
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61121529-choice
Author’s Website: https://www.jodipicoult.com/
Other Reviews
BookChatter@Cookiebiscuit: https://cookiebiscuit.co.uk/2025/04/11/choice-by-jodi-picoult/
Jessica’s Reading Room: https://jessicasreadingroom.com/short-story-sunday-choice-by-jodi-picoult/
The Bookseller: https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/audible-releases-picoults-short-story-inspired-by-threat-to-roe-v-wade
Tales and Texts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plstxDDGkII
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Published by Amorina Carlton. Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram.