Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Genre: YA Dystopian
Publication Date: April 26th 2011
Pages: 336
Book Source: HarperCollins & NetGalley

Synopsis: When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that “pregging” for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

Review:

The synopsis of Bumped really appealed to me and the dystopian world McCafferty created was original & quite fascinating but the barff-worthy amount of futuristic 'speak' was a huge 'neggy' for me.

So why keep reading you ask? Morbid fascination?? Masochistic? Hmm in my defence the concept of a futuristic world (35 years in the future) where a virus has made virtually everyone over the age of 18 infertile, was seriously attention-grabbing. Where teenage girls are venerated for their reproductive ability, the choice for surrogacy as a Reproductive Professional (RePros) or an amateur hinges on genetics and accreditation and parents can take out Egg Equity Loans against their daughters' projected future earnings. But, while I knew this was supposed to be a tad tongue-in-cheek, the overzealous use of corny "preggy" vernacular made the temptation to gag and upchuck my lunch ... a 'for serious' possibility.

bumping, proxy pregging, tocin dosin, hornergy, neggy, pro boner, go pro ....

Melody and Harmony, identical twins separated at birth, are the focus of the story along with Melody's best friend Zen who would be bumping Melody but for his unfortunate lack of verticality. And then there's Jondoe the 'cockjockey' donating the sperm to fulfill Melody's conception contract, he's definitely no 'unaccredited worm'. The twins brought up in the opposing cultures of Goodside and Otherside don't see eye to eye at first but I did like watching their relationship evolve as they got to know each other.

This isn't a read for the shy or prudish but despite the content it has a light tone and it's definitely thought provoking. Don't worry, it's not all 'pregging for profit', there's romance in there but I do have to say the ending 'for seriously' sucked. Talk about premature ejaculation!

I know others have loved Bumped so don't just take my word for it and if you do read this one or you have read it, I'd love to know what you thought. Megan is currently working on the sequel to Bumped.