Jenny’s Pick of the Week: Cherry Baby

As a Rainbow Rowell fan, I was eager to get my hands on a copy of her upcoming release, Cherry Baby. Once I did, I truly could not put it down.

Occasionally devastating and often hilarious, Cherry Baby will have you laughing out loud on one page and wiping tears away on the next. Rowell renders Cherry in full technicolor, capturing her personality with startling authenticity. She’s smart, emotional, sharp-witted, and earnestly trying to rebuild her life. Watching her navigate relationships and the messy work of moving on is relatable and endlessly engaging.

Like many of you, I’m the type of reader who searches for connections to characters, and Cherry felt like a friend from the start. Her struggles and quirks echoed many of my own experiences, and that recognition made every moment of the novel feel even more meaningful. In the end, this was one of those books that became especially hard to say goodbye to.

We meet Cherry at a complicated crossroads in life. She’s entering the second half of her thirties, navigating a marriage on the brink of collapse, and planning a future that doesn’t fit. Her soon-to-be ex-husband is gone—off in LA working on the film adaptation of his autobiographical webcomic, Thursday. Cherry is home, caring for their massive Newfoundland–Pyrenees mix, Stevie (who is an adorable addition to the story).

Meanwhile, the characters from Thursday are becoming more recognizable, and one character in particular is causing trouble for Cherry. With wide hips and a soft jawline, Baby mirrors Cherry so perfectly that the resemblance can’t be dismissed. As the film moves forward, that likeness becomes public knowledge. Soon, online audiences begin to scrutinize Cherry’s body, turning a private insecurity into a very public one. She’s always been aware of her size, but this sudden attention forces her to confront long-buried questions. Toss in an old college crush, relentless tabloids, and a complicated relationship between sisters, and you have the essence of Cherry Baby.

Structured in a way that mirrors her emotional state—messy, reflective, and searching—the narrative moves between past and present, gradually building a layered portrait of a woman preparing for her second act. Through these shifting timelines, we see the moments that shaped Cherry, the relationships that changed her, and the choices that led to this turning point.

While a romantic thread runs throughout, the heart of this novel lies elsewhere. It’s ultimately a work of women’s fiction, focused on female identity, body image, and the unglamorous work of starting over. These heavy topics are presented by the author with compassion, humor, and honesty.

If you gravitate towards character-driven women’s fiction and emotionally layered storytelling, Cherry Baby should be at the top of your reading list. Coming out April 14th, it’s the perfect spring read for fans of Maria Semple, Rufi Thorpe, and Katherine Center.

Copyright Rainbow Rowell, 2026