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Hold My Girl
Two women. Two eggs. One life-changing switch.
Katherine finally has it all. She's spent her entire life striving for perfection—obsessing over her spotless home, maintaining her pristine reputation, building her perfect family—and her hard work has finally paid off. After seven difficult years of trying (and failing) to conceive, Katherine gives birth to Rose, her IVF miracle child, and at last has the one thing she's wanted most of all. But one thing isn't quite perfect. Rose's pale skin doesn't match Katherine's complexion, and an irritating doubt begins to grow in Katherine's mind.
Tess never got the happy ending she wanted. She underwent IVF at the same clinic as Katherine, but after finally conceiving, Tess's daughter was stillborn. Now, nearly one year later, she's approaching rock bottom. Consumed by her grief and without hope for the future, Tess is divorced, broke, and stuck in a dead-end job beneath her skillset.
But shortly before Rose's first birthday, Katherine and Tess get a call from the fertility Their eggs were switched. As Katherine's carefully planned life begins to crumble around her, Tess finally sees the glimmer of hope she needed to get her life back on track. Motherhood has always been their dream, and neither woman is prepared to share that claim over Rose. It will take a tense custody battle to decide who deserves to be Rose's mother, but it will also push them to the brink. With themes of racial identity, loss, and betrayal, Hold My Girl is an emotional novel that will leave you What makes a mother?
Katherine finally has it all. She's spent her entire life striving for perfection—obsessing over her spotless home, maintaining her pristine reputation, building her perfect family—and her hard work has finally paid off. After seven difficult years of trying (and failing) to conceive, Katherine gives birth to Rose, her IVF miracle child, and at last has the one thing she's wanted most of all. But one thing isn't quite perfect. Rose's pale skin doesn't match Katherine's complexion, and an irritating doubt begins to grow in Katherine's mind.
Tess never got the happy ending she wanted. She underwent IVF at the same clinic as Katherine, but after finally conceiving, Tess's daughter was stillborn. Now, nearly one year later, she's approaching rock bottom. Consumed by her grief and without hope for the future, Tess is divorced, broke, and stuck in a dead-end job beneath her skillset.
But shortly before Rose's first birthday, Katherine and Tess get a call from the fertility Their eggs were switched. As Katherine's carefully planned life begins to crumble around her, Tess finally sees the glimmer of hope she needed to get her life back on track. Motherhood has always been their dream, and neither woman is prepared to share that claim over Rose. It will take a tense custody battle to decide who deserves to be Rose's mother, but it will also push them to the brink. With themes of racial identity, loss, and betrayal, Hold My Girl is an emotional novel that will leave you What makes a mother?
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First published January 1, 2023
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About the author
Charlene Carr
18 books424 followersCharlene Carr is the youngest of four children and the only girl. Living in a house full of boys taught her to fight for what she wants and to always reach higher (you have to when everyone in your family towers above you).
She spent much of her childhood creating elaborate, multi-faceted storylines for her dolls and reading under the blankets with a flashlight when she was supposed to be asleep.
A bit of a nomad, she’s lived in four countries and seven Canadian provinces. After travelling the globe for several years and working an array of mostly writing related jobs, she decided the time had come to focus exclusively on her true love—crafting stories.
Charlene is a novelist and stay-at-home mom: her two dream jobs. She lives in Nova Scotia, Canada and loves exploring the coastline of her harbour town with her husband and young daughter.
Her upcoming novel Hold My Girl, "a tense and emotional dual narrative novel about motherhood, racial identity, loss and betrayal," perfect for "Fans of Celeste Ng and Liane Moriarty" will release Winter 2023 from HarperCollins Canada and Welbeck Publishing (UK).
She spent much of her childhood creating elaborate, multi-faceted storylines for her dolls and reading under the blankets with a flashlight when she was supposed to be asleep.
A bit of a nomad, she’s lived in four countries and seven Canadian provinces. After travelling the globe for several years and working an array of mostly writing related jobs, she decided the time had come to focus exclusively on her true love—crafting stories.
Charlene is a novelist and stay-at-home mom: her two dream jobs. She lives in Nova Scotia, Canada and loves exploring the coastline of her harbour town with her husband and young daughter.
Her upcoming novel Hold My Girl, "a tense and emotional dual narrative novel about motherhood, racial identity, loss and betrayal," perfect for "Fans of Celeste Ng and Liane Moriarty" will release Winter 2023 from HarperCollins Canada and Welbeck Publishing (UK).
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May 26, 2023This book has transformed my life. It helped me have something to focus on through times of extreme grief, it allowed me to grow as an author, and as a person.
The premise of the novel stems from my own experience of having a baby through IVF, and, after she was born, being genuinely concerned there was a switch at the lab and she wasn't mine. Thankfully, after about a year, all my fears disappeared, which gave me the freedom to explore the questions – What if these changes hadn’t happened? What if she wasn’t really my child? And, most importantly, what would I owe to the woman whose biological child I was raising?
And those questions are how I came up with this dual-narrative novel about two women whose eggs are switched during IVF, only to be revealed over a year later when one of them has been raising a daughter who's not biologically hers, and the other has been grieving the child she lost.
I hope you pick it up and read it! Whether you preorder, buy once it's out, get it from your local library, or borrow from a friend. I hope you love it. And if you haven't yet, if you'd do me the huge favour of clicking 'Want to Read' right now on Goodreads, I'd be so thankful. 😄
To learn more, check out my Book Chat Video for Hold My Girl
The premise of the novel stems from my own experience of having a baby through IVF, and, after she was born, being genuinely concerned there was a switch at the lab and she wasn't mine. Thankfully, after about a year, all my fears disappeared, which gave me the freedom to explore the questions – What if these changes hadn’t happened? What if she wasn’t really my child? And, most importantly, what would I owe to the woman whose biological child I was raising?
And those questions are how I came up with this dual-narrative novel about two women whose eggs are switched during IVF, only to be revealed over a year later when one of them has been raising a daughter who's not biologically hers, and the other has been grieving the child she lost.
I hope you pick it up and read it! Whether you preorder, buy once it's out, get it from your local library, or borrow from a friend. I hope you love it. And if you haven't yet, if you'd do me the huge favour of clicking 'Want to Read' right now on Goodreads, I'd be so thankful. 😄
To learn more, check out my Book Chat Video for Hold My Girl
September 27, 2023
Katherine Matheson is happily married to Patrick, they struggled for seven years to have a baby and she gave birth to their miracle baby Rose almost a year ago. Katherine is a perfectionist, her husband has a good job, they have a nice home and she makes sure it’s spotless. Kathleen is of African American heritage, she noticed when Rose was born her skin is lighter than she thought it would be and she put it down to genetics doing odd things.
Tess Sokolowski was married, she and her husband tried to have a baby for years and she attended the same IVF clinic as Katherine and sadly Tess’s baby girl was born still. Tess is now divorced, broke, works in a laboratory testing water samples, she never finished her degree, and she doesn’t make the best lifestyle choices and her parents won't speak to her.
Just before Rose’s first birthday, Katherine and Tess get a message from the fertility clinic, a mistake was made, their eggs were switched and both women are shocked. Everyone involved has to have a DNA test, Katherine is scared she’s going to lose the daughter she loves and for Tess it means she might be a mother and something she'd accepted she would never be.
The three people involved have to decide what they want to do, find out their legal rights, are they prepared for a long and drawn out custody battle, use discriminating personal information they can find out about each other to their advantage, prove who would provide Rose with a better life, is Ellen entitled to see Rose and have visitation rights and should they all sue the IVF clinic?
I received a digital copy of Hold My Girl by Charlene Carr from Edelweiss and Sourcebooks in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. Ms. Carr with care and understanding has written a narrative that explores what it's like to be infertile, how common it is and people don’t talk about their struggles, how it makes a women feel, the impact it has on relationships, going through the invasive fertility treatments and ups and downs of IVF, what makes a mother and how mothering comes in many forms.
This made me think my own struggle to be a mother, ten long years, I felt broken and angry, insecure and a complete failure. Looking back, the biggest mistake I made was I didn’t talk to people about how I felt, I should have spoken up when someone said something inappropriate or insensitive and unfortunately it happened all the time.
Five stars from me and if you know someone who’s struggling with infertility be kind, the story mentions stillbirth, pregnancy loss and rape.
Tess Sokolowski was married, she and her husband tried to have a baby for years and she attended the same IVF clinic as Katherine and sadly Tess’s baby girl was born still. Tess is now divorced, broke, works in a laboratory testing water samples, she never finished her degree, and she doesn’t make the best lifestyle choices and her parents won't speak to her.
Just before Rose’s first birthday, Katherine and Tess get a message from the fertility clinic, a mistake was made, their eggs were switched and both women are shocked. Everyone involved has to have a DNA test, Katherine is scared she’s going to lose the daughter she loves and for Tess it means she might be a mother and something she'd accepted she would never be.
The three people involved have to decide what they want to do, find out their legal rights, are they prepared for a long and drawn out custody battle, use discriminating personal information they can find out about each other to their advantage, prove who would provide Rose with a better life, is Ellen entitled to see Rose and have visitation rights and should they all sue the IVF clinic?
I received a digital copy of Hold My Girl by Charlene Carr from Edelweiss and Sourcebooks in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. Ms. Carr with care and understanding has written a narrative that explores what it's like to be infertile, how common it is and people don’t talk about their struggles, how it makes a women feel, the impact it has on relationships, going through the invasive fertility treatments and ups and downs of IVF, what makes a mother and how mothering comes in many forms.
This made me think my own struggle to be a mother, ten long years, I felt broken and angry, insecure and a complete failure. Looking back, the biggest mistake I made was I didn’t talk to people about how I felt, I should have spoken up when someone said something inappropriate or insensitive and unfortunately it happened all the time.
Five stars from me and if you know someone who’s struggling with infertility be kind, the story mentions stillbirth, pregnancy loss and rape.
August 24, 2025
4.5/5
- Wow wow wow I wish that I were reading this book in a book club because it’s truly so good and you’ll want to talk to someone the second you finish this!
- This entire story is a rollercoaster and I love that I had so many conflicting feelings during the whole book. One minute I was cheering for them and the next minute I thought that they weren’t quite ready for such a big responsibility. Such a powerful read!
- Loved the writing in this because it was so easy to read and that’s sometimes tough for me to find with contemporary fiction!
- Wow wow wow I wish that I were reading this book in a book club because it’s truly so good and you’ll want to talk to someone the second you finish this!
- This entire story is a rollercoaster and I love that I had so many conflicting feelings during the whole book. One minute I was cheering for them and the next minute I thought that they weren’t quite ready for such a big responsibility. Such a powerful read!
- Loved the writing in this because it was so easy to read and that’s sometimes tough for me to find with contemporary fiction!
April 12, 2025
WOW. WOW. WOW. As with all books that steal a little piece of my heart, it is entirely too difficult to sum up my thoughts and feelings about Charlene Carr’s newest release.
While I think this book would grip anyone who reads it, it is especially engaging and thought-provoking as a mom myself (and one who has had a son via IVF). This book is ultimately very uplifting; however, it deals with heavier topics in a very raw, very real way. From almost the start, I felt as thought I knew these characters - that I could even be these characters. I felt their hardships in my soul. And months after reading it, I cannot let them or this story go.
Because this is a book that is best going into somewhat blind, I’ve intentionally included minimal information regarding the plot line. It’s all the more stunning that way. But know this - if you are a fan of Jodi Picoult or Kristin Hannah (ie emotional reads that will break your heart and gently piece it back together, all while sparking deep and meaningful debate) this is THE. BOOK. FOR. YOU.
🎧 I choose to do an immersive read to enhance my reading experience and that was 100% the way to go. Carr’s prose and storytelling is already masterful, but the narrator Kate Hanford, added even more depth and dimension especially when it comes to how emotional this story really is.
CW: There are strong triggers around IVF and child bearing. Please DM if you are sensitive to these issues and would like to know more.
✨ 2024 Favorites
👉🏻 Read if you like: character driven stories mixed with intense plot lines, themes around the complexities of motherhood, women’s fiction, powerful and emotional reads, books by Jodi Picoult and Kristin Hannah
Thank you Landmark for the gifted copy.
While I think this book would grip anyone who reads it, it is especially engaging and thought-provoking as a mom myself (and one who has had a son via IVF). This book is ultimately very uplifting; however, it deals with heavier topics in a very raw, very real way. From almost the start, I felt as thought I knew these characters - that I could even be these characters. I felt their hardships in my soul. And months after reading it, I cannot let them or this story go.
Because this is a book that is best going into somewhat blind, I’ve intentionally included minimal information regarding the plot line. It’s all the more stunning that way. But know this - if you are a fan of Jodi Picoult or Kristin Hannah (ie emotional reads that will break your heart and gently piece it back together, all while sparking deep and meaningful debate) this is THE. BOOK. FOR. YOU.
🎧 I choose to do an immersive read to enhance my reading experience and that was 100% the way to go. Carr’s prose and storytelling is already masterful, but the narrator Kate Hanford, added even more depth and dimension especially when it comes to how emotional this story really is.
CW: There are strong triggers around IVF and child bearing. Please DM if you are sensitive to these issues and would like to know more.
✨ 2024 Favorites
👉🏻 Read if you like: character driven stories mixed with intense plot lines, themes around the complexities of motherhood, women’s fiction, powerful and emotional reads, books by Jodi Picoult and Kristin Hannah
Thank you Landmark for the gifted copy.
July 31, 2023
'You think you're okay. Then a word, a look, a thought, and the pain rushes on you, erupts from somewhere deep within and you're shattered...'.
This story has more hurt in it than a nest full of hornets. Both Tess and Kat have spent years trying to become pregnant - and stay pregnant. They've both let their lives become consumed in striving to achieve this goal. This primal ability that every woman should be entitled to - able to - realise, 'She couldn't remember what it was to not feel the pain of being a broken woman...'. Both women finally become pregnant but, heartbreakingly, Tess's baby is stillborn, whereas Kat finally fulfills her dream. Kat's dream becomes a nightmare though, when months after her baby's birth, a nurse confesses to purposely switching the eggs of these two women during their IVF process. Now, just who does the baby really belong to? 'Rose is my baby, no matter what the tests say, so kindly walk away'.
This book is full of sorrow and betrayal. Betrayal of your own body, to not give you what, as a woman, you should innately be entitled to. Betrayal of a family who should be unconditionally supportive, and the nurse who decided to 'play God'. Betrayal of a society that can be deaf to the heartache some women go through in order to fulfill a primal yearning. The hurt that results from all of this is aching. The ethical questions unleashed in trying to derive the answer to this dilemma are wide and deep. Just what makes you a mother?
I normally do not bother with trigger warnings, but feeling such a depth of sorrow after reading this book, I would definitely advise that some readers might be affected. I really enjoyed reading this book, however, and I was fully engaged in discovering just how it might turn out. Charlene Carr has done well to highlight such a common, yet somewhat 'taboo' topic. Like with many 'secret' societal issues, the more they are discussed and normalised, the quicker, hopefully, people will stop feeling 'shameful' about them. To that end, I recommend this story to enhance anyone's understanding of the harrowing journey many women, their families, and their friends, go through each year.
This story has more hurt in it than a nest full of hornets. Both Tess and Kat have spent years trying to become pregnant - and stay pregnant. They've both let their lives become consumed in striving to achieve this goal. This primal ability that every woman should be entitled to - able to - realise, 'She couldn't remember what it was to not feel the pain of being a broken woman...'. Both women finally become pregnant but, heartbreakingly, Tess's baby is stillborn, whereas Kat finally fulfills her dream. Kat's dream becomes a nightmare though, when months after her baby's birth, a nurse confesses to purposely switching the eggs of these two women during their IVF process. Now, just who does the baby really belong to? 'Rose is my baby, no matter what the tests say, so kindly walk away'.
This book is full of sorrow and betrayal. Betrayal of your own body, to not give you what, as a woman, you should innately be entitled to. Betrayal of a family who should be unconditionally supportive, and the nurse who decided to 'play God'. Betrayal of a society that can be deaf to the heartache some women go through in order to fulfill a primal yearning. The hurt that results from all of this is aching. The ethical questions unleashed in trying to derive the answer to this dilemma are wide and deep. Just what makes you a mother?
I normally do not bother with trigger warnings, but feeling such a depth of sorrow after reading this book, I would definitely advise that some readers might be affected. I really enjoyed reading this book, however, and I was fully engaged in discovering just how it might turn out. Charlene Carr has done well to highlight such a common, yet somewhat 'taboo' topic. Like with many 'secret' societal issues, the more they are discussed and normalised, the quicker, hopefully, people will stop feeling 'shameful' about them. To that end, I recommend this story to enhance anyone's understanding of the harrowing journey many women, their families, and their friends, go through each year.
November 23, 2025
O…M…G😳
Talk about a damn rollercoaster!
My emotions were all over the place with this one.
I didn’t know whose side to be on because I felt for BOTH of the mothers equally.
I yelled at the book, I clutched my pearls, I gasped a million times and I screamed “NOOOOOOOOOO!!!” more times than any sane person should while reading.
Like seriously… what would you do? How would you function if you were in a situation like this?
Well done Charlene Carr👏🏽👏🏽.
I can’t wait to read more by this author.
Talk about a damn rollercoaster!
My emotions were all over the place with this one.
I didn’t know whose side to be on because I felt for BOTH of the mothers equally.
I yelled at the book, I clutched my pearls, I gasped a million times and I screamed “NOOOOOOOOOO!!!” more times than any sane person should while reading.
Like seriously… what would you do? How would you function if you were in a situation like this?
Well done Charlene Carr👏🏽👏🏽.
I can’t wait to read more by this author.
March 28, 2023
I got bored of this pretty quickly. This isn’t the kind of novel I normally gravitate towards which is my fault
One dimensional characters, repetitive. I skipped at least 200 pages just to see how it ended and I don’t feel like I missed anything. Could’ve been 100 pages shorter
One dimensional characters, repetitive. I skipped at least 200 pages just to see how it ended and I don’t feel like I missed anything. Could’ve been 100 pages shorter
June 8, 2023
This really wasn't the read for me. I really had to talk myself into finishing it (Why, Courtney? Why didn't you just DNF? BECAUSE I HAVE TO FINISH!! You don't understand!! I MUST finish!! And also because I am my own worst enemy and like to make myself suffer. Who knows?), only eighty pages in and I was like "this is not for me, this is not for me".
Anyway. It's well written and easy to read but there's some retread of the same thoughts and topics and no expansion on others. (Can we accept that infertility just happens to a good chunk of people? It's not a personal failure? Charlene Carr addresses that this book and the journey of infertility is really personal to her but there is no point within the narrative where she attempts to address that infertility just needs to be a far more accepted thing. It happens.) It could have used a cut throat editor in my opinion, this definitely could have been one hundred pages lighter and the story would not have suffered at all. I found both protagonists slightly unbearable. Tess's trauma is addressed entirely too late in the narrative to make an impact and Katherine is... I just want her to address the constant microaggressions from her in-laws but it's constantly brushed off by her dick husband.
The reasoning of the "swap" doesn't entirely make sense, or needed more time for its explanation which is surprising for a book where so much is over-explained. And I guess maybe that really cuts to the heart of my issues with this book, the things I wanted the narrative to address where either glossed over or not addressed at all while there's an extraordinary amount of time devoted to these two women and their entitlement to having a child.
Anyway. It's well written and easy to read but there's some retread of the same thoughts and topics and no expansion on others. (Can we accept that infertility just happens to a good chunk of people? It's not a personal failure? Charlene Carr addresses that this book and the journey of infertility is really personal to her but there is no point within the narrative where she attempts to address that infertility just needs to be a far more accepted thing. It happens.) It could have used a cut throat editor in my opinion, this definitely could have been one hundred pages lighter and the story would not have suffered at all. I found both protagonists slightly unbearable. Tess's trauma is addressed entirely too late in the narrative to make an impact and Katherine is... I just want her to address the constant microaggressions from her in-laws but it's constantly brushed off by her dick husband.
The reasoning of the "swap" doesn't entirely make sense, or needed more time for its explanation which is surprising for a book where so much is over-explained. And I guess maybe that really cuts to the heart of my issues with this book, the things I wanted the narrative to address where either glossed over or not addressed at all while there's an extraordinary amount of time devoted to these two women and their entitlement to having a child.
August 20, 2024
Mėgavotės senosiomis, gerosiomis Jodi Picoult istorijomis? Kur egzistuodavo reali problema ar nusikaltimas, autorė išmėgindavo tiek skaitytojo empatiją, tiek moralinius rėmus ir dar paklibindavo juos? Tai ši knyga jums. Iki kaulų skaudi, jautri, liūdna, tačiau ir šviesos randasi. Nesu tikra, kad istorija būtų pačią tiek palietusi jei neturėčiau veikelių, nes viskas čia sukasi būtent apie motinystę ir tą nesuvokiamą meilę, kuri užgimsta moters širdy gimus kūdikėliui.
Trokšti vaikų, tačiau negalėti jų susilaukti yra siaubinga trauma, siaubingas jausmas, kurio neturėtų patirti jokia moteris. Tačiau būtent apie tai knygoje kalbama: dvi moterys savjojusios apie kūdikį išalikė daug bandymų, daug mėginimų, daug nusivylimų, bet pagaliau pastojo. Vienos dukrytė gimsta, kitos, deja, neišgyvena... Dabar ta mergytė - Rouzė - jau vienerių ir laimingai gyvena su šeima. Tačiau paaiškėja, jog klinikoje įvyko klaida ir Rouzė - neišgyvenusi kūdikio moters biologinė dukra.
Siaubas kiek emocijų palikau tarp puslapių. Suprantu abi moteris, abiejų norą turėti Rouzę tik sau, nesidalinti ir turėti normalų gyvenimą su savo vaiku - bet juk abi moterys mergytę laiko sava. Autorė labai žemiškai aprašo šią istoriją: nekelia bereikalingų dramų (pati istorijos esmė juk pakankamai dramatiška), neieško kaltų, o tik parodo dvi labai mylinčias moteris, kurios griebsis bet kokių priemonių dėl savo vaiko. Čia nėra blogiečių ar geriečių - sunku net pasirinkti kurią moterį labiau palaikai (aš pasirinkau, bet nespoilinsiu), bet abiejų labai labai gaila. Tikrai puikus, jautrus ir pamąstyti verčiantis kūrinys.
Trokšti vaikų, tačiau negalėti jų susilaukti yra siaubinga trauma, siaubingas jausmas, kurio neturėtų patirti jokia moteris. Tačiau būtent apie tai knygoje kalbama: dvi moterys savjojusios apie kūdikį išalikė daug bandymų, daug mėginimų, daug nusivylimų, bet pagaliau pastojo. Vienos dukrytė gimsta, kitos, deja, neišgyvena... Dabar ta mergytė - Rouzė - jau vienerių ir laimingai gyvena su šeima. Tačiau paaiškėja, jog klinikoje įvyko klaida ir Rouzė - neišgyvenusi kūdikio moters biologinė dukra.
Siaubas kiek emocijų palikau tarp puslapių. Suprantu abi moteris, abiejų norą turėti Rouzę tik sau, nesidalinti ir turėti normalų gyvenimą su savo vaiku - bet juk abi moterys mergytę laiko sava. Autorė labai žemiškai aprašo šią istoriją: nekelia bereikalingų dramų (pati istorijos esmė juk pakankamai dramatiška), neieško kaltų, o tik parodo dvi labai mylinčias moteris, kurios griebsis bet kokių priemonių dėl savo vaiko. Čia nėra blogiečių ar geriečių - sunku net pasirinkti kurią moterį labiau palaikai (aš pasirinkau, bet nespoilinsiu), bet abiejų labai labai gaila. Tikrai puikus, jautrus ir pamąstyti verčiantis kūrinys.
May 7, 2023
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I'm not big on trigger warnings but I believe these are needed: Still birth, Infertility, IVF.
Hold My Girl is a highly emotional read. After many years of IVF Katherine's beautiful baby girl is about to turn one. Katherine's life is perfect.
Tess's much wanted baby girl was still born at 22 weeks. Racked with grief Tess goes off the rails.
Both women get a call that there has been a mix-up at the IVF clinic; their eggs were switched. What ensues is a heartbreaking account of the ups and downs of their lives and the battle for baby Rose.
Charlene Carr wrote Hold My Girl after the birth of her pale skinned daughter and strangers asking her if she was her child. This got her to thinking, what if there was a mix up? What sort of moral dilemma would ensue? Who has rights, birth mother or biological mother?
Hold My Girl is a remarkable story of the strength of women and the pull of motherhood.
I was siding with one woman throughout the entire story and my loyalty never wavered.
I read this whole novel with a heavy heart.
*I received my copy through Beauty & Lace Book Club
I'm not big on trigger warnings but I believe these are needed: Still birth, Infertility, IVF.
Hold My Girl is a highly emotional read. After many years of IVF Katherine's beautiful baby girl is about to turn one. Katherine's life is perfect.
Tess's much wanted baby girl was still born at 22 weeks. Racked with grief Tess goes off the rails.
Both women get a call that there has been a mix-up at the IVF clinic; their eggs were switched. What ensues is a heartbreaking account of the ups and downs of their lives and the battle for baby Rose.
Charlene Carr wrote Hold My Girl after the birth of her pale skinned daughter and strangers asking her if she was her child. This got her to thinking, what if there was a mix up? What sort of moral dilemma would ensue? Who has rights, birth mother or biological mother?
Hold My Girl is a remarkable story of the strength of women and the pull of motherhood.
I was siding with one woman throughout the entire story and my loyalty never wavered.
I read this whole novel with a heavy heart.
*I received my copy through Beauty & Lace Book Club
October 14, 2024
Solid domestic suspense!!
Twists were twisty and I kinda guessed the ending, but this was an enjoyable ride.
Twists were twisty and I kinda guessed the ending, but this was an enjoyable ride.
October 18, 2023
Hold My Girl by Charlene Carr is by far, one of the most complex novels I’ve ever read on motherhood. I had to pause and sit with my thoughts multiple times while reading this story. It brings SO many questions, emotions, and perspectives to the surface. As the synopsis suggests:
“𝙏𝙬𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣. 𝙏𝙬𝙤 𝙚𝙜𝙜𝙨. 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚-𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝.”
At an IVF clinic, the eggs of two women are switched. One woman gives birth to her daughter, but sadly, the other woman’s child is stillborn. Nearly two years later, the truth is revealed, a scandal breaks out, and the big question is asked: Exactly who does this child belong to? Morals, science, and empathy all play into answering that loaded question. At the very beginning of the book, the author includes a content warning, which I greatly appreciated. She mentions infertility and pregnancy loss as triggering topics discussed in the novel, so please keep that in mind if this one is on your radar.
Carr’s writing skills are evident as she delivers a steady-paced storyline with deeply layered and well-developed characters. The novel felt action-packed and suspenseful, yet extremely character-driven throughout. I inhaled this book last weekend, and found it very difficult to put down. I emphasized with both women and could never pick a side. They’re in an unthinkable and nightmarish situation—how can you not feel for them both? This story is emotional, unique, thought-provoking, unsettling, and heartbreaking. You’ll experience an abundance of emotions while reading it, trust me. 5/5 compelling stars for Hold My Girl! I highly recommend this novel, but please use caution regarding the trigger warnings before you pick it up.
“𝙏𝙬𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣. 𝙏𝙬𝙤 𝙚𝙜𝙜𝙨. 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚-𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝.”
At an IVF clinic, the eggs of two women are switched. One woman gives birth to her daughter, but sadly, the other woman’s child is stillborn. Nearly two years later, the truth is revealed, a scandal breaks out, and the big question is asked: Exactly who does this child belong to? Morals, science, and empathy all play into answering that loaded question. At the very beginning of the book, the author includes a content warning, which I greatly appreciated. She mentions infertility and pregnancy loss as triggering topics discussed in the novel, so please keep that in mind if this one is on your radar.
Carr’s writing skills are evident as she delivers a steady-paced storyline with deeply layered and well-developed characters. The novel felt action-packed and suspenseful, yet extremely character-driven throughout. I inhaled this book last weekend, and found it very difficult to put down. I emphasized with both women and could never pick a side. They’re in an unthinkable and nightmarish situation—how can you not feel for them both? This story is emotional, unique, thought-provoking, unsettling, and heartbreaking. You’ll experience an abundance of emotions while reading it, trust me. 5/5 compelling stars for Hold My Girl! I highly recommend this novel, but please use caution regarding the trigger warnings before you pick it up.
January 20, 2025
Kai imuosi knygos apie motinystę, visad kirba neramumas - ar autorius/ -ė pakankamai giliai užgriebs, kad istorija paliktų žymę. Šį romaną taip pat pradėjau su neramumu.
Rašytoja pasirinko visai galimą scenarijų: vaisingumo klinikoje sumaišomos kiaušialąstės. Ir staiga dvi moterys tampa vienos mergaitės mamomis. Katrina su vyru net septynerius metus eina nevaisingumo keliu, tačiau dirbtinis apvaisinimas pavyko ir ji augina Rouzę. Vis tik nuo pirmų dienų moteriai kyla įtarimų, nes Rouzė ypatingai šviesi, nors pati Katrina ir maišytos rasės. Na, o Tesos gyvenimas nelepino - ji patyrė skyrybas, o galiausiai nėštumas baigėsi vėlyvu persileidimu. Apie sukeitimą moterys sužino po vienerių metų, tačiau dėl globos sutarti nepavyksta ir viskas nukeliauja į teismą.
Skaitytojas šiame romane atsiduria teisėjo vietoje. Istorija pasakojama tiek iš Katrinos pusės, tiek iš Tesos. Visa laimė, kad nė viena veikėja nėra tiesiog “gerietė” ar “blogiukė”. Abi moterys turi juodų dėmių biografijose, slepia kaulus spintose. Na, o teismas juk gali viską iškelti… Kuri turės drąsos būti tikrąja savimi ir kokios priemonės galimos norint laimėti mergaitės globą.
Tenka pagalvoti: kur motinystė svarbesnė: biologinė/ genetinė ar psichologinė. Tesą ir Rouzę sieja tik pusė bendrų genų. Ar ji turi teisę į mergaitę? Na, o Katrina nešiojo, gimdė mergaitę ir nieko nežinojo. Sunki užduotis ir teisėjui, ir skaitytojui. Vis dėl to, ar vaikas gali būti kieno nors nuosavybė? Rašytoja iškelia ne tik šiuos aspektus: kiek svarbus šeimos, aplinkos palaikymas, rasiniai skirtumai, apskritai, kaip moterį bei šeimą paveikia nevaisingumas. Jaučiau, kad viskas išjausta ir patirta, nes autorė taip pat keliavo šiuo keliu.
Romaną vertinu labai gerai. Buvo gera skaityti, įsijausti ir kartu svarstyti. Tikrai buvo dvejonių iki pat pabaigos, į ka ši istorija pavirs. Rekomenduoju visiems, kuriems įdomios moralinės dilemos ir motinystės temos.
Rašytoja pasirinko visai galimą scenarijų: vaisingumo klinikoje sumaišomos kiaušialąstės. Ir staiga dvi moterys tampa vienos mergaitės mamomis. Katrina su vyru net septynerius metus eina nevaisingumo keliu, tačiau dirbtinis apvaisinimas pavyko ir ji augina Rouzę. Vis tik nuo pirmų dienų moteriai kyla įtarimų, nes Rouzė ypatingai šviesi, nors pati Katrina ir maišytos rasės. Na, o Tesos gyvenimas nelepino - ji patyrė skyrybas, o galiausiai nėštumas baigėsi vėlyvu persileidimu. Apie sukeitimą moterys sužino po vienerių metų, tačiau dėl globos sutarti nepavyksta ir viskas nukeliauja į teismą.
Skaitytojas šiame romane atsiduria teisėjo vietoje. Istorija pasakojama tiek iš Katrinos pusės, tiek iš Tesos. Visa laimė, kad nė viena veikėja nėra tiesiog “gerietė” ar “blogiukė”. Abi moterys turi juodų dėmių biografijose, slepia kaulus spintose. Na, o teismas juk gali viską iškelti… Kuri turės drąsos būti tikrąja savimi ir kokios priemonės galimos norint laimėti mergaitės globą.
Tenka pagalvoti: kur motinystė svarbesnė: biologinė/ genetinė ar psichologinė. Tesą ir Rouzę sieja tik pusė bendrų genų. Ar ji turi teisę į mergaitę? Na, o Katrina nešiojo, gimdė mergaitę ir nieko nežinojo. Sunki užduotis ir teisėjui, ir skaitytojui. Vis dėl to, ar vaikas gali būti kieno nors nuosavybė? Rašytoja iškelia ne tik šiuos aspektus: kiek svarbus šeimos, aplinkos palaikymas, rasiniai skirtumai, apskritai, kaip moterį bei šeimą paveikia nevaisingumas. Jaučiau, kad viskas išjausta ir patirta, nes autorė taip pat keliavo šiuo keliu.
Romaną vertinu labai gerai. Buvo gera skaityti, įsijausti ir kartu svarstyti. Tikrai buvo dvejonių iki pat pabaigos, į ka ši istorija pavirs. Rekomenduoju visiems, kuriems įdomios moralinės dilemos ir motinystės temos.
October 13, 2023
Hold My Girl does its best to make you feel for both Tess and Katherine. There’s really no respite in this story, something is always coming out, someone is always messing something up and while for some it might be repetitive, I liked it for going through every aspect carefully – the backstories and inner worlds, as well as the judicial process. The characters were all well established and the two main POVs equally interesting and engaging.
I can’t lie and say I didn’t pick a side and that side was Katherine’s. While the book really does an excellent job of representing both women and the brutally unfair circumstances they’re both in, whenever I would build a fraction more empathy for Tess, something would come out and make it so Katherine just felt like the narrative’s punching bag. I don’t want to spoil anything, but Katherine was left off with one too many loose end and that rubbed me the wrong way. I feel like Tess got to go through massive ups and downs and grow, while Katherine got one epiphany.
To be honest, it took me a while into the book to start to care about the biology of it all. Katherine carried and gave birth to Rose and then raised her for a year. That should’ve counted for way more and it really bothered me the way Tess immediately jumped to “That’s my child, I have a child.” and I found it very hard to try to stay neutral.
I think Katherine’s inlaws should’ve been addressed properly but instead Katherine starts questioning if she misconstrued their racist comments.
All in all, this was very stressful but ultimately enjoyable and as satisfying as it could be, considering the theme. If you’re like me and for some reason enjoy books that make you go through a million emotions a minute, you’ll enjoy this.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for this ARC.
I can’t lie and say I didn’t pick a side and that side was Katherine’s. While the book really does an excellent job of representing both women and the brutally unfair circumstances they’re both in, whenever I would build a fraction more empathy for Tess, something would come out and make it so Katherine just felt like the narrative’s punching bag. I don’t want to spoil anything, but Katherine was left off with one too many loose end and that rubbed me the wrong way. I feel like Tess got to go through massive ups and downs and grow, while Katherine got one epiphany.
To be honest, it took me a while into the book to start to care about the biology of it all. Katherine carried and gave birth to Rose and then raised her for a year. That should’ve counted for way more and it really bothered me the way Tess immediately jumped to “That’s my child, I have a child.” and I found it very hard to try to stay neutral.
I think Katherine’s inlaws should’ve been addressed properly but instead Katherine starts questioning if she misconstrued their racist comments.
All in all, this was very stressful but ultimately enjoyable and as satisfying as it could be, considering the theme. If you’re like me and for some reason enjoy books that make you go through a million emotions a minute, you’ll enjoy this.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for this ARC.
August 22, 2025
Charlene Carr took me on a whole ride with this book! Katherine + Tess both got IVF treatment from the same clinic and conceived only Tess’s child was stillborn and Katherine had a beautiful baby girl, Rose. One day out of no where they get a phone call & find out that their eggs were switched and honey the drama that ensues delivered on the entertainment!
It’s crazy that while reading this I found myself avoiding the question of who Rose truly should “belong” to. The plot picks up from early on in the story and I loved that. Along the way there were nuggets of little bombs dropped to keep reeling you in deeper into the story. Shockingly enough, even with the moral dilemma, I was still able to sympathize with both women though I can’t say I rooted for one more than the other.
Hold My Girl is a story about Motherhood, it’s an emotional and thought-provoking read. There’s issues of race weaved throughout that will tug on your heartstrings! **This would make a great book club/buddy read book!!
⭐️ 4.5/5
It’s crazy that while reading this I found myself avoiding the question of who Rose truly should “belong” to. The plot picks up from early on in the story and I loved that. Along the way there were nuggets of little bombs dropped to keep reeling you in deeper into the story. Shockingly enough, even with the moral dilemma, I was still able to sympathize with both women though I can’t say I rooted for one more than the other.
Hold My Girl is a story about Motherhood, it’s an emotional and thought-provoking read. There’s issues of race weaved throughout that will tug on your heartstrings! **This would make a great book club/buddy read book!!
⭐️ 4.5/5
Read
October 8, 2022A tender exploration of secrets, loss, and motherhood, and the lengths the heart will go to protect what it has found. A moving case study of what it means to truly move with empathy, grace, and compassion within those gray unspoken spaces of our lives.
August 1, 2022
In Hold My Girl, Charlene Carr unflinchingly pulls the reader into the broken hearts and spiralling minds of two mothers who are thrust into an unimaginable situation. With poignant insight and - at times - unsettling accuracy, Carr has crafted not only a compelling, intensely propulsive page turner, but a deeply emotional exploration into the very essence of what it means to be a mother. I was spellbound from start to finish
November 29, 2024
** Original Review: June 2023
Title: Hold My Girl
Author: Charlene Carr
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.75
Pub Date: January 24, 2023
I received complimentary eARC of this book from HarperCollins Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Absorbing • Reflective • Powerful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Katherine is a woman full of obsessions. Everything clean, everything perfect, all the time. After seven years of trying—and failing—to conceive, she finally gives birth to Rose, her IVF miracle child. But she’s afraid that Rose may not be her daughter; her pale skin doesn’t match Katherine’s own.
Tess never got her happy ending. She took on IVF alongside Katherine and a group of hopeful mothers, but her daughter, Hanna, was stillborn. After a series of poor choices, she’s divorced, broke and stuck in a job that’s below her skill set.
Katherine and Tess each get a call from the fertility clinic that reveals shocking news: the two women’s eggs were switched. While Katherine’s perfect life beings to crumble around her, for Tess it’s the glimmer of hope she needs to get her life back on track. But it will take a custody battle to decide who deserves to be Rose’s mother, a battle that will push both women to the brink.
💭 T H O U G H T S
When researching 2023 releases, the premise of Hold My Girl instantly intrigued me, yet I wasn't expecting something so powerful. I must say I was absolutely wowed by this debut from a new voice in Canadian literature. Covering themes of racial identity, infertility, loss, betrayal, and the complexities of motherhood, this novel beautifully raises so many moral questions.
Alternating between Tess and Katherine's POVs allowed me to sympathize and empathize with each woman. I was pulled into the narrative from the very first page and the story opened my eyes to the very real and heartbreaking journey of infertility. All of the characters (even the secondary ones) were so real and complex - even Tess' mom who was absolutely awful!
This novel surprised me in so many ways! To me it's always a sign of a great book when it raises thought-provoking questions, makes me contemplate, and generates interesting discussion - each of which is done exceptionally well here. The one complain I did have is how it seemed to want to cover a little too much. There was one 'twist' I didn't think was necessary at all and actually left me rolling my eyes.
Overall, Hold My Girl took me by surprise and I absolutely loved it! I could definitely see it being turned into a movie. Don't miss the author's note at the end, as Charlene shares her personal connection and inspiration behind the story. I am really hoping Charlene Carr has more novels up her sleeve, because I will be keeping my eye out!
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Jodi Picoult fans
• readers who enjoy themes of motherhood
• bookclubs
⚠️ CW: medical content, medical trauma, pregnancy, infertility, miscarriage, infidelity, alcoholism, alcohol, rape, sexual assault, abortion, racism, racial slurs, colorism, grief, strained parental relationship, sexual content, suicidal thoughts
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"But something I learned, that we both learned, is love doesn't split when you share it. It grows."
** Re-read November 2024
Re-read this book for my in-person book club and I still enjoyed it. Definitely noticed a few more plot holes the second time through and rolled my eyes at the same thing. This specific plot point was completely unnecessary and a little over the top. It sparked great discussion among the women in my book club.
Title: Hold My Girl
Author: Charlene Carr
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.75
Pub Date: January 24, 2023
I received complimentary eARC of this book from HarperCollins Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Absorbing • Reflective • Powerful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Katherine is a woman full of obsessions. Everything clean, everything perfect, all the time. After seven years of trying—and failing—to conceive, she finally gives birth to Rose, her IVF miracle child. But she’s afraid that Rose may not be her daughter; her pale skin doesn’t match Katherine’s own.
Tess never got her happy ending. She took on IVF alongside Katherine and a group of hopeful mothers, but her daughter, Hanna, was stillborn. After a series of poor choices, she’s divorced, broke and stuck in a job that’s below her skill set.
Katherine and Tess each get a call from the fertility clinic that reveals shocking news: the two women’s eggs were switched. While Katherine’s perfect life beings to crumble around her, for Tess it’s the glimmer of hope she needs to get her life back on track. But it will take a custody battle to decide who deserves to be Rose’s mother, a battle that will push both women to the brink.
💭 T H O U G H T S
When researching 2023 releases, the premise of Hold My Girl instantly intrigued me, yet I wasn't expecting something so powerful. I must say I was absolutely wowed by this debut from a new voice in Canadian literature. Covering themes of racial identity, infertility, loss, betrayal, and the complexities of motherhood, this novel beautifully raises so many moral questions.
Alternating between Tess and Katherine's POVs allowed me to sympathize and empathize with each woman. I was pulled into the narrative from the very first page and the story opened my eyes to the very real and heartbreaking journey of infertility. All of the characters (even the secondary ones) were so real and complex - even Tess' mom who was absolutely awful!
This novel surprised me in so many ways! To me it's always a sign of a great book when it raises thought-provoking questions, makes me contemplate, and generates interesting discussion - each of which is done exceptionally well here. The one complain I did have is how it seemed to want to cover a little too much. There was one 'twist' I didn't think was necessary at all and actually left me rolling my eyes.
Overall, Hold My Girl took me by surprise and I absolutely loved it! I could definitely see it being turned into a movie. Don't miss the author's note at the end, as Charlene shares her personal connection and inspiration behind the story. I am really hoping Charlene Carr has more novels up her sleeve, because I will be keeping my eye out!
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Jodi Picoult fans
• readers who enjoy themes of motherhood
• bookclubs
⚠️ CW: medical content, medical trauma, pregnancy, infertility, miscarriage, infidelity, alcoholism, alcohol, rape, sexual assault, abortion, racism, racial slurs, colorism, grief, strained parental relationship, sexual content, suicidal thoughts
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"But something I learned, that we both learned, is love doesn't split when you share it. It grows."
** Re-read November 2024
Re-read this book for my in-person book club and I still enjoyed it. Definitely noticed a few more plot holes the second time through and rolled my eyes at the same thing. This specific plot point was completely unnecessary and a little over the top. It sparked great discussion among the women in my book club.
January 28, 2024
This book was nothing short of amazing‼️ When I say it will have your thoughts and emotions all over the place literally. The author explored such a powerful topic that will leave many readers feeling uneasy about whose side they should be on. Not gone lie I was a bit bias the entire time and always sided with Katherine. I just felt like she had more to lose in the situation and I’d probably react the same as she did.
But it was such a realistic drama packed with twists, secrets, suspense, and intrigue that will have you immersed in the story from beginning to end. We get multiple plots woven into this single narrative while never straying away from the overall plot of the novel. Every character felt like a real person from their personal actions, distinct motives, and their personalities. Everything felt so authentic and believable.
Patrick’s mother did entirely too much especially with her racial remarks. His ass didn’t do enough to step in and stand up for his wife. I get why Katherine had mixed feelings about sharing custody with Tess. Once all the secrets started pouring out it made me take a deeper look at the circumstances at hand. How would you feel knowing the child you gave birth to wasn’t biologically yours and the man you married had sex with the woman who is the biological mother? That alone drove a deeper wedge in any relationship or agreement that could’ve been made between Katherine, Patrick, and Tess.
Overall, the book was perfect and a beautifully-written reflection on an inevitable situation. There are quite a few trigger warnings involving rape, stillbirth, abortion, fertility issues, race, and betrayal. This is a book I highly recommend everyone to read‼️It’s full of surprising twists and emotional challenges that truly make it unforgettable.
But it was such a realistic drama packed with twists, secrets, suspense, and intrigue that will have you immersed in the story from beginning to end. We get multiple plots woven into this single narrative while never straying away from the overall plot of the novel. Every character felt like a real person from their personal actions, distinct motives, and their personalities. Everything felt so authentic and believable.
Patrick’s mother did entirely too much especially with her racial remarks. His ass didn’t do enough to step in and stand up for his wife. I get why Katherine had mixed feelings about sharing custody with Tess. Once all the secrets started pouring out it made me take a deeper look at the circumstances at hand. How would you feel knowing the child you gave birth to wasn’t biologically yours and the man you married had sex with the woman who is the biological mother? That alone drove a deeper wedge in any relationship or agreement that could’ve been made between Katherine, Patrick, and Tess.
Overall, the book was perfect and a beautifully-written reflection on an inevitable situation. There are quite a few trigger warnings involving rape, stillbirth, abortion, fertility issues, race, and betrayal. This is a book I highly recommend everyone to read‼️It’s full of surprising twists and emotional challenges that truly make it unforgettable.
September 18, 2024
Labai norėjau, jog man ši knyga patiktų, o ir tema pasirodė pagauli bei nenuvalkiota. Tačiau mano akimis, autorė stipriai prašovė pro šalį..
Katrina po nesėkmingų bandymų pastoti, kuomet jau buvo praktiškai praradusi viltį sulaukė savo stebuklo.. Ir to stebuklo vardas - Rouzė.
Deja, tačiau Tesai tokios pabaigos sulaukti neteko. Jai tuo pačiu metu kaip ir Katrinai, buvo atlikta dirbtinio apvaisinimo procedūra. Tesos dukra Hana gimė negyva.. Nors ir nelengva, tačiau Tesa nepasiduoda ir stengiasj kabintis į gyvenimą.
Artėjant pirmąjam Rouzės gimtadieniui Katrina sulaukia skambučio iš vaisingumo klinikos. Paaiškėjo, jog įvyko siaubinga klaida. Apvaisinant dviejų moterų kiaušinėliai buvo sukeisti. Ir tos moterys yra Tesa ir Katrina. Tai reiškia, jog Rouzė yra biologinė Tesos dukra..
Tikėjausi istorijos, kuri mane sujaudins bej palies.. Nors knygos pradžia ir pasirodė įdomi, tačiau kuo toliau tas įdomumas blėso..
Mane tiesiog erzino Tesos personažas. Amžinas blaškymasis tarp noro būti motina, o vėliau gailėjimasis savęs ir to, kaip pati susigadino savo gyvenimą. Ir taip turbūt daugiau nei pusę knygos 🤦🏻♀️
Katrina buvo irgi ne ką geresnė. Pas ją kita istorija ir kitos bėdos, tačiau erzino lygiai taip pat kaip ir Tesa.
Norėjosi man pajusti ir sužinoti ką iš tiesų jaučia tokioje situacijoje atsidūrusios moterys, o gavau tik savęs gailėjimosi bei "kiti kalti tik ne aš" pasakojimą. Vietomis net buvo ir nuobodoka skaityti.
Autorė pasirinko puikią temą ir manau, jog pasakojimas galėjo būti stiprus, tačiau ne šį kartą.
Katrina po nesėkmingų bandymų pastoti, kuomet jau buvo praktiškai praradusi viltį sulaukė savo stebuklo.. Ir to stebuklo vardas - Rouzė.
Deja, tačiau Tesai tokios pabaigos sulaukti neteko. Jai tuo pačiu metu kaip ir Katrinai, buvo atlikta dirbtinio apvaisinimo procedūra. Tesos dukra Hana gimė negyva.. Nors ir nelengva, tačiau Tesa nepasiduoda ir stengiasj kabintis į gyvenimą.
Artėjant pirmąjam Rouzės gimtadieniui Katrina sulaukia skambučio iš vaisingumo klinikos. Paaiškėjo, jog įvyko siaubinga klaida. Apvaisinant dviejų moterų kiaušinėliai buvo sukeisti. Ir tos moterys yra Tesa ir Katrina. Tai reiškia, jog Rouzė yra biologinė Tesos dukra..
Tikėjausi istorijos, kuri mane sujaudins bej palies.. Nors knygos pradžia ir pasirodė įdomi, tačiau kuo toliau tas įdomumas blėso..
Mane tiesiog erzino Tesos personažas. Amžinas blaškymasis tarp noro būti motina, o vėliau gailėjimasis savęs ir to, kaip pati susigadino savo gyvenimą. Ir taip turbūt daugiau nei pusę knygos 🤦🏻♀️
Katrina buvo irgi ne ką geresnė. Pas ją kita istorija ir kitos bėdos, tačiau erzino lygiai taip pat kaip ir Tesa.
Norėjosi man pajusti ir sužinoti ką iš tiesų jaučia tokioje situacijoje atsidūrusios moterys, o gavau tik savęs gailėjimosi bei "kiti kalti tik ne aš" pasakojimą. Vietomis net buvo ir nuobodoka skaityti.
Autorė pasirinko puikią temą ir manau, jog pasakojimas galėjo būti stiprus, tačiau ne šį kartą.
May 10, 2023
Charlene Carr explores a heartbreaking dilemma in her emotive novel, Hold My Girl.
Born after seven years of fertility treatments, Rose, nearing one year old, is Katherine Matheson’s miracle baby. After so much heartbreaking failure, Katherine is determined to be the perfect mother, ignoring the nagging worry that Rose, with her pale skin, looks nothing like her.
Tess Sokolowski’s chance to have a child of her own ended on the day her daughter, conceived via IVF, was stillborn at 21 weeks, leading to an emergency hysterectomy. Alone and stuck in a dead end job, Tess numbs the pain of her losses with too much alcohol and indiscriminate sex.
When news breaks that a nurse at an IVF clinic has confessed to switching the eggs of two women, the lives of Katherine and Tess are thrown into turmoil.
Carr thoughtfully explores the moral and legal complexity the situation raises as Katherine and Tess both fight to claim Rose as their own. Katherine, and her husband Patrick, who is Rose’s biological father, argue that only they can provide Rose with a stable upbringing. She’ll have two loving parents, financial comfort, and a supportive extended family, though Katherine is worried that her race will count against them. Tess has biology, and her inability to have any more children, on her side, but divorced, estranged from her family, and with no savings, she can only hope it will be enough.
Both Katherine and Tess are well portrayed with nuance, and compassion for their individual circumstances. I could find empathy for both of them, even when they were not behaving particularly well. I’d like to think I would be more generous than Katherine seems to be to Tess for the benefit of Rose, but it’s such a heartbreaking situation for which there is no perfect solution.
Carr also touches on other sensitive issues including sexual assault, adultery, racism, and alcoholism, adding complexity to the debate.
Hold My Girl is a provocative and poignant novel, well written and compelling.
Born after seven years of fertility treatments, Rose, nearing one year old, is Katherine Matheson’s miracle baby. After so much heartbreaking failure, Katherine is determined to be the perfect mother, ignoring the nagging worry that Rose, with her pale skin, looks nothing like her.
Tess Sokolowski’s chance to have a child of her own ended on the day her daughter, conceived via IVF, was stillborn at 21 weeks, leading to an emergency hysterectomy. Alone and stuck in a dead end job, Tess numbs the pain of her losses with too much alcohol and indiscriminate sex.
When news breaks that a nurse at an IVF clinic has confessed to switching the eggs of two women, the lives of Katherine and Tess are thrown into turmoil.
Carr thoughtfully explores the moral and legal complexity the situation raises as Katherine and Tess both fight to claim Rose as their own. Katherine, and her husband Patrick, who is Rose’s biological father, argue that only they can provide Rose with a stable upbringing. She’ll have two loving parents, financial comfort, and a supportive extended family, though Katherine is worried that her race will count against them. Tess has biology, and her inability to have any more children, on her side, but divorced, estranged from her family, and with no savings, she can only hope it will be enough.
Both Katherine and Tess are well portrayed with nuance, and compassion for their individual circumstances. I could find empathy for both of them, even when they were not behaving particularly well. I’d like to think I would be more generous than Katherine seems to be to Tess for the benefit of Rose, but it’s such a heartbreaking situation for which there is no perfect solution.
Carr also touches on other sensitive issues including sexual assault, adultery, racism, and alcoholism, adding complexity to the debate.
Hold My Girl is a provocative and poignant novel, well written and compelling.
February 7, 2023
A heartbreaking domestic drama in which two women discover their eggs were switched during an IVF procedure. Now they have to fight for custody of the child and things get complicated and messy.
Recommended for fans of Jodi Picoult or Celeste Ng, this book is perfect for book clubs and was good on audio narrated by Kate Handford.
My first book by this new to me Black Canadian author and I'm excited to read whatever she writes next! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
Recommended for fans of Jodi Picoult or Celeste Ng, this book is perfect for book clubs and was good on audio narrated by Kate Handford.
My first book by this new to me Black Canadian author and I'm excited to read whatever she writes next! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
September 10, 2024
Dvi moterys, du labai panašūs tikslai gyvenime, tačiau didžiausio kontrasto likimai. Katrina pastoja po dirbtinio apvaisinimo ir galiausiai pagimdo blyškiaveidę dukrelę, pati būdama juodaodė. Abejonės neapleidžia moters, tačiau ji stengiasi gyventi toliau ir apsupti dukrą meile. O štai Tesa, deja, pastojusi po dirbtinio apvaisinimo dukrelės netenka. Dienos, savaitės, mėnesiai eina, ir abi moterys įmetamos ir klaikiausią košmarą: pasirodo, apvaisinimo metu buvo sukeisti kiaušinėliai ir moterys nešiojo svetimus vaikus. Tačiau lieka dilema: kuri iš jų yra tikroji mama? Ta, kuri tokia yra biologiškai, ar toji, kuri išnešiojo, pagimdė ir dabar augina?
Šitas romanas gali drąsiai pretenduoti į vieną tų, kuris sudrasko širdį į skutelius. Ir į vieną iš tų, kur niekaip negalėsite pasirinkti, kurią pusę palaikyti. Nes aš negalėjau. Neturiu vaikų, bet vis tiek negalėjau apsispręsti, kuri iš jų iš tiesų turi gauti tai, ko nori. Ir nuolat, kone viso romano metu norėjau joms abiem išrėkti: susitarkit. Vaikui dėl to bus tik geriau. Daugiau meilės, daugiau dėmesio, mažiau pavargę tėvai. Bet vis tik puikiai suprantu, kad tokiais atvejais yra daug lengviau pasakyti, nei padaryti.
Vienu metu buvau įsitikinusi, turėjau gana tvirtą nuomonę apie tai, kaip norėčiau, kad pasibaigtų šis romanas. Tada tą nuomonę pakeičiau. Tada dar kartą. O galiausiai supratau – kad ir kokia pabaiga čia būtų nutikusi, nebūtų idealu. Būtų skausminga vienai ir kitai. Moterys vis tiek turėtų kažką aukoti. Ramybę taip pat.
Man visada labai patiko Jodi Picout romanai – tad be abejonių, čia labai labai panašus reikalas ir jei mėgstate aną autorę, šią knygą galite griebti be didesnių svarstymų. Problema, socialinės diskusijos, teismas, moralinių kompasų pasireguliavimas ir itin sudėtingi sprendimai. Viską rasite ir šiame romane.
„Kartoju: vaikai prisitaiko. Mylimi vaikai veržiasi link laimės. Kol jie nenaudojami kaip kariaujančių tėvų ginklai, paprastai jiems viskas būna gerai.“
Romanas sudėtingas. Čia ne tik paliečiama sukeistų kiaušinėlių situacija, bet ir nevaisingumas, apie kurį kalbėti dar ir šiandien drįsta ne visi. Ne visi gali atsiverti, pasisakyti, ypač kai tos sveikatos problemos ir užsitęsiantis gydymas dažnai ne tik kad neduoda norimų rezultatų, bet ir sugriauna santykius. Knygoje apie tai irgi nemažai kalbama, ir viskas tikrai logiška, suprantama, pateisinama, bet labai skaudu.
Drįsčiau teigti, kad čia buvo viena iš labiausiai emociškai išgręžiančių knygų, skaitytų paskutiniu metu. Bet ji puiki, nepalieka minčių jau kelias savaites.
Leidyklos dovana.
Šitas romanas gali drąsiai pretenduoti į vieną tų, kuris sudrasko širdį į skutelius. Ir į vieną iš tų, kur niekaip negalėsite pasirinkti, kurią pusę palaikyti. Nes aš negalėjau. Neturiu vaikų, bet vis tiek negalėjau apsispręsti, kuri iš jų iš tiesų turi gauti tai, ko nori. Ir nuolat, kone viso romano metu norėjau joms abiem išrėkti: susitarkit. Vaikui dėl to bus tik geriau. Daugiau meilės, daugiau dėmesio, mažiau pavargę tėvai. Bet vis tik puikiai suprantu, kad tokiais atvejais yra daug lengviau pasakyti, nei padaryti.
Vienu metu buvau įsitikinusi, turėjau gana tvirtą nuomonę apie tai, kaip norėčiau, kad pasibaigtų šis romanas. Tada tą nuomonę pakeičiau. Tada dar kartą. O galiausiai supratau – kad ir kokia pabaiga čia būtų nutikusi, nebūtų idealu. Būtų skausminga vienai ir kitai. Moterys vis tiek turėtų kažką aukoti. Ramybę taip pat.
Man visada labai patiko Jodi Picout romanai – tad be abejonių, čia labai labai panašus reikalas ir jei mėgstate aną autorę, šią knygą galite griebti be didesnių svarstymų. Problema, socialinės diskusijos, teismas, moralinių kompasų pasireguliavimas ir itin sudėtingi sprendimai. Viską rasite ir šiame romane.
„Kartoju: vaikai prisitaiko. Mylimi vaikai veržiasi link laimės. Kol jie nenaudojami kaip kariaujančių tėvų ginklai, paprastai jiems viskas būna gerai.“
Romanas sudėtingas. Čia ne tik paliečiama sukeistų kiaušinėlių situacija, bet ir nevaisingumas, apie kurį kalbėti dar ir šiandien drįsta ne visi. Ne visi gali atsiverti, pasisakyti, ypač kai tos sveikatos problemos ir užsitęsiantis gydymas dažnai ne tik kad neduoda norimų rezultatų, bet ir sugriauna santykius. Knygoje apie tai irgi nemažai kalbama, ir viskas tikrai logiška, suprantama, pateisinama, bet labai skaudu.
Drįsčiau teigti, kad čia buvo viena iš labiausiai emociškai išgręžiančių knygų, skaitytų paskutiniu metu. Bet ji puiki, nepalieka minčių jau kelias savaites.
Leidyklos dovana.
September 13, 2024
Jau iš knygos aprašymo buvo aišku, kad laukia stipri, emocinga ir išskirtinė istorija. Dvi moterys, dvi mamos ir du labai skirtingi likimai - Tesos, kuri po pagalbinio apvaisinimo prarado kūdikį ir liko be šeimos, pinigų ir vilties, bei Katrinos, pagaliau sulaukusios svajonės išsipildymo - dukrelės Rouzės. Abiejų gyvenimus supurto žinia, kad apvaisinimo metu, jų kiaušinėliai buvo sukeisti - Rouzė yra biologinė Tesos dukra, o Katrina tampa tik ją išnešiojusia moterimi. Nei viena pusė, neketina nusileisti - abi stoja į kovą dėl mergaitės globos. O tokiose situacijose, žinoma, vieno teisingo sprendimo nėra..
Labai mėgstu tokio tipo knygas - negali likti abejingas, nuolat renkiesi "teisingą" pusę, bandai įsijausti į visų veikėjų situaciją ir nuspręsti, kas iš tiesų, tokioje situacijoje, būtų geriausia. Ir nors galvotum, kad svarbiausi vaiko interesai, supranti, kad daugelis esame šiek tiek egoistiški ir galimai elgtumėmės taip, kaip elgėsi Tesa ir Katrina.
Ne visi autorės sprendimai, man atrodė reikalingi - situacijos su Tesa, šiek tiek priminė gulinčio spardymą, bandant vis pabloginti ir taip sunkią jos situaciją. Gerai bent tai, kad lygybę atkūrė ir Katrinos pusėje, primindama, kad nėra namų be dūmų ir net už gražiausių šeimos paveikslėlių, dažnai slepiasi ne tokie jau rožiniai ir blizgantys dalykai.
Labai jautrus ir susimąstyti verčiantis romanas - manau, kad tikrai patiks tiems, kurie mėgsta širdį drąskančias istorijas ir nebijo skaudesnių temų.
Labai mėgstu tokio tipo knygas - negali likti abejingas, nuolat renkiesi "teisingą" pusę, bandai įsijausti į visų veikėjų situaciją ir nuspręsti, kas iš tiesų, tokioje situacijoje, būtų geriausia. Ir nors galvotum, kad svarbiausi vaiko interesai, supranti, kad daugelis esame šiek tiek egoistiški ir galimai elgtumėmės taip, kaip elgėsi Tesa ir Katrina.
Ne visi autorės sprendimai, man atrodė reikalingi - situacijos su Tesa, šiek tiek priminė gulinčio spardymą, bandant vis pabloginti ir taip sunkią jos situaciją. Gerai bent tai, kad lygybę atkūrė ir Katrinos pusėje, primindama, kad nėra namų be dūmų ir net už gražiausių šeimos paveikslėlių, dažnai slepiasi ne tokie jau rožiniai ir blizgantys dalykai.
Labai jautrus ir susimąstyti verčiantis romanas - manau, kad tikrai patiks tiems, kurie mėgsta širdį drąskančias istorijas ir nebijo skaudesnių temų.
October 31, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 to be more specific!
I LOVED this book!
I loved getting drawn into all the characters and the details of their lives!
I loved the twists and turns as the novel progressed- I have never had an actual stomach ache from being so worried about a character in a book! (Forever Team Katherine though!)
I loved the ending- in particular, I was not left feeling unsatisfied (but yet I would still Definitely read a sequel!)
I loved the relevance of the topic chosen, and how so many nuances of motherhood, relationships, race, and addiction were all woven together seamlessly!
I now love this new-to-me author, and cannot wait to dive into more of her novels!
I LOVED this book!
I loved getting drawn into all the characters and the details of their lives!
I loved the twists and turns as the novel progressed- I have never had an actual stomach ache from being so worried about a character in a book! (Forever Team Katherine though!)
I loved the ending- in particular, I was not left feeling unsatisfied (but yet I would still Definitely read a sequel!)
I loved the relevance of the topic chosen, and how so many nuances of motherhood, relationships, race, and addiction were all woven together seamlessly!
I now love this new-to-me author, and cannot wait to dive into more of her novels!
August 4, 2024
Jaudinantis pasakojimas apie tai, ką reiškia būti motina, ir apie tai, kiek daug galime padaryti dėl mylimų žmonių. Romanas, paliečiantis motinystės, netekties, išdavystės temas ir keliantis moralinius klausimus. 🫶
May 12, 2025
Susigundžiau perskaityti šią knygą ne todėl, kad Kauno klubo nariai skaitė balandžio mėnesį, o kad rekomendavo viena skaitytoja. Ji tik keliais sakiniais paminėjo apie kūrinį ir man to užteko.
Tesa ir Katrina tiek daug laiko bando susilaukti vaikučio, bet joms vis nepavyksta, kol vienas kartas abiems būna sėkmingas - jos abi pastoja dirbtinio apvaisinimo būdu, bet deja, supainiojami jų kiaušinėliai.
Tikrai per daug nieko neatskleidžiau, daugiau atrasite apie kūrinį knygos nugarėlėje. Pradžia tikrai intrigavo, įmetė į įvykių tėkmę, bet kuo toliau skaičiau - istorija atrodė neįtikėtina, atmosfera dirbtinė kaip ir pokalbiai. Neįtikino manęs, o ir nei vienos mamos nepalaikiau. Tik gaila, kad kūrinio tema yra išskirtinė, bet taip blankiai ir neįtikinamai parašyta.
Vertinu: 2,5⭐️/ iš 5⭐️
Tesa ir Katrina tiek daug laiko bando susilaukti vaikučio, bet joms vis nepavyksta, kol vienas kartas abiems būna sėkmingas - jos abi pastoja dirbtinio apvaisinimo būdu, bet deja, supainiojami jų kiaušinėliai.
Tikrai per daug nieko neatskleidžiau, daugiau atrasite apie kūrinį knygos nugarėlėje. Pradžia tikrai intrigavo, įmetė į įvykių tėkmę, bet kuo toliau skaičiau - istorija atrodė neįtikėtina, atmosfera dirbtinė kaip ir pokalbiai. Neįtikino manęs, o ir nei vienos mamos nepalaikiau. Tik gaila, kad kūrinio tema yra išskirtinė, bet taip blankiai ir neįtikinamai parašyta.
Vertinu: 2,5⭐️/ iš 5⭐️
February 11, 2023
This was a sweet book that was probably too long given that it never moves much beyond its central dilemma. Katherine is horrified when she learns that her one-year-old daughter, Rose, is not biologically related to her; it turns out that the embryo that was implanted during her IVF treatment was actually formed from another woman's egg fertilised with her husband's sperm. Meanwhile, Tess can't believe it when she hears that she has a living biological daughter, having given up all hope of children after a stillbirth and a hysterectomy. But both Katherine and Tess want sole custody of Rose. Who is Rose's 'real' mother - and who gets to decide who deserves to be?
I liked the way that Charlene Carr sympathetically developed the characters of both Katherine and Tess, even if Katherine felt a little unbelievably hard-hearted to me at the start of the novel and Tess's actions were hard to understand near the end. Hold My Girl is keen that we should like both women, and so doesn't fall into the trap of demonising one of them. Nevertheless, I wanted a much deeper, Jodi-Picoult-style dive into the ethical and moral issues here. (Jodi would have made the court scenes last for at least half of the novel!) I thought the book could have had more to say about motherhood via DNA versus motherhood as the work of carrying, birthing and raising a child. Carr also only briefly mentions the racism Katherine faces when it's discovered that she's a black woman raising a white baby. Given that this is, then, a character-led novel, I wanted both Katherine and Tess to feel more complex and individual. Warm and engaging, but not something I'd read again.
I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
I liked the way that Charlene Carr sympathetically developed the characters of both Katherine and Tess, even if Katherine felt a little unbelievably hard-hearted to me at the start of the novel and Tess's actions were hard to understand near the end. Hold My Girl is keen that we should like both women, and so doesn't fall into the trap of demonising one of them. Nevertheless, I wanted a much deeper, Jodi-Picoult-style dive into the ethical and moral issues here. (Jodi would have made the court scenes last for at least half of the novel!) I thought the book could have had more to say about motherhood via DNA versus motherhood as the work of carrying, birthing and raising a child. Carr also only briefly mentions the racism Katherine faces when it's discovered that she's a black woman raising a white baby. Given that this is, then, a character-led novel, I wanted both Katherine and Tess to feel more complex and individual. Warm and engaging, but not something I'd read again.
I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
April 2, 2025
4.25 stars
Video review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2wCe9TQ/
Video review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2wCe9TQ/
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