Reviews tagging 'Infertility'

Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall

36 reviews

cardewallen's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

capricaandrea's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

tyreadsbooks_'s review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

"𝘋𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴, 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯." 

✦ 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 :

•fiction inspired by true stories 

•women’s rights

•1970s historical fiction 

•long lost letters

•multiple timelines & povs 

•strong female characters 

•Canadian setting

•mothers & daughters

✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 :

3 women’s voices, 3 timelines, 3 separate stories that intertwine in the most beautiful way.

This book had everything I look for in a 5 star read - well written characters, atmospheric writing, perfectly executed plot twists, the weaving of fiction with well researched historical facts, plus emotions that jump right off the page into your heart.

Yes, this book is heavy. But I think it’s so timely. It's about the many aspects of motherhood, women supporting women, & ultimately, choice. The right to choose what you share about your past, what you do with your present.

𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 is an impressive debut that l absolutely recommend. Books like this one are the reason why I love historical fiction.

(Full disclosure - I was very apprehensive about reading this book, just because of my own personal experiences. There are some highly sensitive topics explored here, but I felt it was done with grace & gentleness.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Pregnancy

tinkeringcheck's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad slow-paced

3.25

Read for a book club, and I while the prose is well-written and the story obviously resonates with many readers it just wasn't for me. Personally I found it quite heavy without much reprieve (mind the content warnings, they're graphic) and I didn't really feel like the main character voices were distinguishable from each other despite some strong side characters. Even when I started to get sucked in, a few last minute twists and left-field character beats shook me out of the story again. I'm looking at you, future Nancy storyline.

I also feel bad saying this, but I'm not a big fan of books that feel like they were written mainly to Educate the Reader instead of tell a story. I might have bounced off because I know too much about the abortion rights movement in Canada already, but I'm glad this book is making that history more accessible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Vomit

Minor: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Panic attacks/disorders

modryzamek's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Abortion, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

dernst's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Minor: Infertility

greendog1200's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Infertility, Misogyny, Sexism, and Death of parent

Minor: Infidelity and Rape

jaklindberg's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

sometimesalyreadsbooks's review

dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I know what you're thinking: "This looks like a great historical fiction about a female spy during World War II" and you're right to think that, but you're WRONG. This book is set in modern day-ish (2016), 1971 and 1980. So many years, none being the 30s or 40s. 

That being said, it IS a great historical fiction! About other years. A teenager in the 70s who finds herself pregnant and forced to give her baby up for adoption, the trauma that she and the other women face, the eventual decision to become a doctor and join an underground abortion network, so that women can have a choice. 

Another woman, modern day, desperate for a child of her own - discovers a letter. She decides, like many others, to go looking for Jane. 

The plot twist in this book threw me for an absolute loop, I will give it that. I was flabbergasted. Taken back. Shocked. 

The plot starts slow, and at time and dialogue at times, was a little too "scripted infomercial" on women's oppression and the fight for reproductive rights, but the plot was beautiful. I cried many times reading this book club pick and I highly recommend it.

Buckle up for the last 20% because the author does rush to tie everything together, but I felt it was well-done and really, all about women and our multitudes. 4.5 stars!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Abortion

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

migimon2002's review

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicide, Abortion, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Infertility, and Infidelity