Childproof by Michael Noonan is a dark comedy about Rose and Will, a couple who love to throw parties; in fact, their lives revolve around them. They have, in fact, constructed the perfect party group composed of three other couples who fit their strict requirements. Life is a whirlwind being the center of attention, being praised for their parties, but one day that all ends when one of the couples announces their pregnancy. One by one, the other couples follow suit, leaving Rose and Will alone in their childless lives. Over time the pair comes to miss their old lives so much that they decide to go to great lengths to get their friends back, even if it involves murder.

The first thing I liked about this book was that it gave a definition of dark comedy, which I feel also serves as your warning that this book is a dark comedy, which is an excellent thing it did. Said comedy starts at the very beginning, as the couple contemplates ending their lives in a spectacular newsworthy fashion. Please don’t consider following in their footsteps. The book did contain a couple of memorable lines that’ll stick with me, which I always find a plus. It’s hilarious how Noonan also gives us the thoughts of animals and babies in this book; it’s great getting their input on each situation.

I found the backstories, and while informative and funny, they made me forget their original point. Then there are the backstories within the backstories that made for a disorienting reading experience. A couple of characters featured throughout the book were annoying, and while that was their point, I found they were so much so that their scenes grated on my nerves.

Childproof is a full-on dark comedy that will entertain and shock readers. It pulls no punches and leaves no insult unused. You’ll constantly be saying: “Did they really make a joke about that?” If you like your comedy extremely dark, then this is your book. While the darkness of the comedy could be a bit much for readers, it was a well-penned book.

Pages: 266 | ASIN : B0BF4PCBTW

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/17/childproof/