Finding the Rainbow

by Rachel McGrath

Finding the Rainbow is a fascinating and honest insight into a world that most would find difficult to understand, and many would be quietly thankful not to need to. McGrath tells the story of her battle to conceive and carry a baby, with unrestricted honesty, leaving the reader in no doubt as to her thoughts and feelings, and the courageousness with which she deals with a very difficult period in her and her husband's lives. This emotive account draws attention to some of the otherwise unknown aspects of infertility and miscarriage, whilst still leaving room for humour, happiness and philosophy.


The first book for Rachel McGrath, she writes about her battle with her body, her mind and the health service, whilst showing an incredible amount of inner strength, elegance and poise.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction

175 pages, Paperback

First published May 21, 2015

About the author

Rachel McGrath grew up in Brisbane, Australia, where she studied business, before moving to the United Kingdom in her early thirties. She currently lives just north of London, where she met and married her husband, and has a professional career in human resources.


Rachel has always had a passion for writing both fiction and non-fiction. Since her early teens, she has created many short stories as well as smaller pieces that have never been published. Finding the Rainbow is her first published work, a memoir capturing a difficult time in her life. She is passionate about sharing this with a wider audience.

Rachel has since written several books, mainly children's fiction.

Reviews

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going into “Finding the Rainbow” I was (and am) a happy parent of 3 gorgeous children, none of whom I had a single iota of an issue with conceiving. Fertility for me was a non issue and like a lot of us, if something is not bang up in our lives we do little more than pay lip service to the fact that others struggle – feeling sympathy of course but perhaps not empathy and definitely with no real understanding of how tough, raw and physically demanding it can be to want something so much, that comes so naturally to everyone you know yet be unable to achieve it yourself.

Rachel McGrath’s book is an eye opener – both heart wrenching and heart warming, she speaks with eloquence and honesty about her struggle, the effects it has had on both her and her loved ones, the seemingly endless journey and the lows and occasional highs along the way. It is both fascinating and inspiring, evokes a true emotional response because these are true emotions coming off the pages in waves – for me there was a quiet confidence behind the narrative that ultimately, no matter the outcome, everything would be ok.

It did bring me to tears, but it also made me smile – a pure read with a devastating subject matter, I have a far far greater understanding of the issues involved and have also come to understand with far more depth the range of feelings that go along with those issues – the fear, the hope, the true battle which is acceptance and forward motion and the author has put this all in here, using the beauty and power of words to get it all across.

A book that deserves to be read widely, I definitely recommend it – not just for women, or just for women that have fertility problems – but for anyone at all who has ever faced in their life a seemingly insurmountable problem. This is inspiring, truthful and as real as it gets.

Highly Recommended.

[Bill Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a true story about the author's attempts to have a child. It is a difficult journey and she has 4 miscarriages and by the end of the book has still not managed to have the baby she so desires. I am the proud father of 8 children and have only experienced 1 miscarriage by which time I already had 5 children so my personal experience of what the author has had to go through is miniscule.
I enjoyed reading this book despite fundamentally finding it sad to read what the author has experienced. I think the author's indomitable spirit and recognition many other facets of her life were blessed, stopped the book from becoming depressive. The story is certainly told well and would make good reading for health professionals, who could be reminded that for every individual they meet experiencing these problems, it is the most important thing happening in their life at that moment. They are not just another number to process through scans and consultations.
The book is a very honest account of the author's experiences and certainly had me gripped from start to finish. A book that will appeal to all women but as a man I still enjoyed.
Like I am sure millions of others, I would like to offer one true story that perhaps gives hope to those struggling to have children. My aunt and uncle tried for 10 years to have a child and experienced several miscarriages but I'm not sure how many. They then gave up and adopted a girl. Over the next 5 years they had 3 children naturally!
I wish the author all the best wherever life takes her.

[Rachel McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is clearly my own comments on my own book - and of course I think my story is 5 stars. But I would love you to be the true judge of that!

Finding the Rainbow is my pesonal and intimate journey through the most challenging time in my own life - trying to conceive and carry a baby.

But I hope that the book is more than that to my readers, I wanted to tell my own tale of hope and always looking forward, finding a way through the storm to see a new day and hopefully my 'rainbow baby'. I have been so grateful for those who have read this story so far, and I truly hope that it connects, helps and supports other women like me, who have been or are still on this journey.

Thank you for reading my story.

[Grant Leishman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until I read Finding the Rainbow, I had never given much thought at all to the difficulties of early miscarriages. Whether it is because I'm a man and just didn't get it, I'd always sort of thought that it was just a bit of bad luck - I mean there wasn't a whole lot there at five or six weeks anyway. Of course I could understand a potential parent's loss of a child in later pregnancy, or even a stillborn, but early pregnancy loss just didn't seem to be such a big thing.

Finding the Rainbow and Rachel McGrath have changed all that. Her story is a harrowing tale of; sadness and loss; of anger and pain; and yet what shines through more than anything is the wonderful hope and acceptance that she and her husband have. To have suffered the ups and downs of so many raised expectations only to have them cruelly dashed against the rocks has no doubt shaped much of her views on life now. I found myself constantly admiring the way in which these two people have handled the cruel twists of fate that life has handed them.

The book itself is beautifully written and Rachel McGrath draws you into her own private, personal world and gives you the understanding of how this all really felt to her. It didn't take long for me to full realise that what I thought of as a little blob inside her uterus, was in fact so much more. It was the dreams and aspirations of two people who desperately want to have a child and for whatever reason were unable to progress the pregnancies past the five or six week period. The reader feels the pain and anguish of the author and yet, there is a positivity and a sense of hope from this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed Finding the Rainbow and give it the full five stars that it rightfully deserves. I would recommend it to anyone, not just parents or prospective parents. It is one of those books that leaves you feeling better than when you started reading it. Well done to Rachel McGrath - an excellent piece of work.

[Cyril Patrick Feerick · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this very personal and dramatic book, Rachel McGrath recounts the emotional upheavals, difficult decisions, and the many tough struggles of a woman who just wants to be a mother. Some take it for granted they can have babies - that it is just a simple process. The author's honesty and openness really brought home the desperate pain people in this situation must be feeling, no matter how they appear to the outside world. But there is plenty of hope and that's what Rachel does best in Finding The Rainbow. It offers hope for other women who have faced similar heartache. I am truly humbled and inspired by the author's strong character and determination.

[BonnieReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was the writers story of her dream of being a mum and when that didn't come true because of miscarriage. I havent had an experience like this, but I can't imagine going through what she did. But the story isn't all sad, and that's what made the book so lovely. The writer tells her story on how she continues to find ways through her sadness, her love for her husband, and what keeps her strong.
I will be telling people going through the same to read her book

[Patsy Norton]

The introduction to this text invites the reader to be part of a personal experience in a very sincere and straightforward way. McGrath’s style is relaxed but not overly so. She writes well, engaging the reader from her first “brief word” chapter in this account of how a mature thirty-odd year old woman came to understand the impact of not being able to carry a child to full term. There is more to the author’s story, of course, than just the pain of losing a foetus: the growth of a strong, loving relationship with her husband and the emphasis placed on the support of family and friends enhance the narrative. In many ways, the earlier sections of the book where there is a description of different facets of the author’s life are an enjoyable read. The female reader hears the voice of someone she knows, or could have been in these sections, where the catchy chapter titles such as “Big girls don’t cry” increase this sense of empathy with McGrath.
For this female reader, probably of the same vintage as the author’s mother, the second half of the book was where I disengaged. Possibly this was because the details were so unfamiliar to me, or because the author’s determination to “tell it as it was”, even if in quite a brisk, smoothly flowing style, disengaged me. That would most probably not be the reaction of a younger reader, who can identify with the physical and emotional details, or picture herself in conversation with a husband when reading McGrath’s dialogue. Having said that, I think this book has authenticity. It is not telling the reader how to deal with infertility or lost babies, or barriers to pregnancy. McGrath wants the reader to understand that falling pregnant and having a child should not be underestimated. Therefore, the reader with most to gain from this book is probably a woman of child-bearing age or someone who faced similar difficulties but did not have the courage nor the literary ability to write such a readable account as McGrath. It would be interesting to consider the impact the author may have if or when she fictionalizes this kind of authentic experience and allows her writing to take her beyond the personal.
Dr Patsy Norton

[Anne Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the true story of the authors battle to conceive and carry a baby. It is a well written honest, in fact brutally honest at times) account. It is not a comfortable book to read but it is compulsive. It is sad and harrowing at times but full of hope and courage. There were times when I held my breath until I was breathless. The turmoil and anguish is described very realistically. At times the writing is emotive and at others matter of fact. The way it encroached on every aspect of life is a real eye opener. The suspense made it a real page turner and I read it over 2 days. As a nurse I dealt with many patients with miscarriages and some with multiple miscarriages. I hope I was sympathetic and comforting but I realise after reading this account that my understanding was very superficial. I have thought long and hard about to whom I would recommend this book. Both my granddaughters gave birth to delightful babies last year and I have no doubt they will want to give birth to others. I don't think I would like them to read the book. I would most certainly recommend it to health professionals, patients and families and friendsof those following in the footsteps of Ms Mc Grath. I am sure it would be helpful. I commend the author and her husband

[Joss Landry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A POIGNANT STORY

A wrenching story to tell, yet Rachel McGrath does it superbly well in Finding the Rainbow, a story about her unfruitful trials of giving birth to a healthy baby.
I guess many of us never realize the problem this can become for some women. Oh, we hear and read about their difficulties, know about the fertility clinics and the ongoing heartbreak of those who can’t conceive. Yet, we never fully measure the length of their ordeal, or the dark, difficult days that blend into one and other, be it a holiday or another birthday round the bend.

Of course, each child is a reminder of the family they cannot have. Of course, one goes on with career goals and favorite vacation plans, yet the shadow of being infertile hangs over all outings with gloom and forbiddance.

What is sadder is the fact this story doesn’t render any outcome. So many decisions can be taken to ease the gaping motherhood void these days. With all the wonderful technology out there, viable solutions exist and McGrath recognizes them. Let’s see if she follows up with another telltale story, this time, in the form of a solution or two to ring in the dawn of a new beginning. Here’s hoping.

[Sarah Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding the Rainbow draws you into Ms McGrath’s story by omitting the usual Chapter one… two… and using intriguing titles. The chapters are also short, or was that my imagination? It could have been; she was soon “Rachel”, a friend I felt I’d known for years.

I suspect she began writing her story from a deep need to express her feelings: I admire her courage in making it public, and the care she has taken to make it readable. I won’t say “easy to read”; it isn’t. It’s brutally honest and, I hope, will touch a chord in all her readers, whether to show them they are not alone or to enable support and understanding.

The love for her husband, and his for her, shines through every page. My heart sank and I cried with her, when he told her he didn’t see a future that included children. The relief when he changed his mind, was my relief.

My heart goes out to Rachel and I truly hope she has her rainbow baby soon. Another book, whether or not she does, would be on my “to-read” list. To answer one of her own questions, I think the availability of early DIY testing, as opposed to vital medical checking, creates stress.

[May Panayi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to have had two easy pregnancies in my twenties, when nature is still kind, and makes it easy. But when I tried in my mid thirties with my 2nd husband and couldn't conceive, then had a life threatening ectopic, that put paid to all ideas of further parenthood. Now I understand the problems of crazed hormones and whacked out body functions as a menopausal woman [a subject also not often discussed] so I could relate to Rachel McGrath's sad tale of multiple miscarriages and traumatised emotions. It's sad that in this day and age, as women, we have choices for career, lifestyle and so on, but nature pays no respect to that. Mrs McGrath has painted a very clear picture of how painful that can be. Her honesty is refreshing and I wish her well for the future. This poignant tale will move you with compassion. The accounts of different hospital staff attitudes, and even the old days [my own mother miscarried 7 times] really makes you think about things.

[AuroraB · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book via amazon, early - after ordering it pre release. It was a story I was highly interested in as I have followed the author for a while on her page. I had expectations, but can I tell you it was more than that. I'm someone who has also experienced miscarriage and some infertility challenges. The story is warm, emotional, honest, raw and it keeps you going through the author's own pregnancy stories, each making you feel the ups and the downs. Her strength and her honesty is touching, and yet she stays positive and seems to show a real sense of humour and reality to her situation.

I highly recommend to others whether you have had the same experiences or whether you want a story of a woman's strength to enjoy. Its not a long book, it took me a few hours, but I couldn't put it down.

[KayCee · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent account of a very emotional time - written with such clarity and always giving hope to what will come next. It was a book I couldn't put down once I started and I was able to read it in one sitting. Lots of tissues required but also gave occasions to smile and laugh when Rachel described her actions and reactions. Definitely a book everyone can read; mothers, struggling mothers-to-be and those who have not yet travelled that road. I look forward to reading more of her work.

[S.J. Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit that when I downloaded a copy of this book I was apprehensive about reading it as this story looked to be too close to home for me. I am so glad I decided to give it a go.

It was comforting beyond words to read excerpts that could have been pages of my diary - had I kept one that is. It was also a relief to know that I was not alone in my obsessive-compulsive-test-taking-Google-reading-symptom-checking habits.

Was this an emotional read for me? Yes, but not in the way I expected. My own experiences and memories naturally came flooding back but whilst this memoire was full of heartache and bitter disappointments it was also a story of hope.
Rachel McGrath is a woman of great courage and strength. I admire her for speaking out. This book is sure to offer comfort to those going through similar heartbreak.

[Leah McG · Rating 5 out of 5]

You would think a book about miscarriage, pregnancy and all that trying for family stuff would be clinical, boring and depressing. Rachel McGrath's memoir is actually quite enchanting to follow. She has humour, realism, and the way she tells the story is so emotive that you actually feel everything she is feeling - I was actually talking back at the book throughout as if I was having conversations directly with her. I wanted her to succeed, I wanted everything to be alright, but yet even when it wasn't I felt that she would be ok regardless. It was inspirational to read, and I highly recommend this book for anyone out there who is facing a problem in their life. Rachel's perspective is one of hope - something we should all believe in.

[Sherrie Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always liked reading non celebrity memoirs and this one came to my notice through the author on twitter on the subject of miscarriage.
I have known several people who have lost babies and I have felt for all of them. It must be the most unbearable pain to suffer.
This book tells of the hope and subsequent heartache of a couple trying for a successful pregnancy and their rainbow baby. It is very well written, open and honest and my heart went out to them with every loss. All through the book I was willing her to have a full term pregnancy resulting in a healthy baby. I admired her bravery and also her husband's to never give up and to keep trying and hoping that the next one might be the successful one. I hope with all of my heart that it is for them.

[Ed Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even as I found this a difficult (because of the emotions) book to read, I applaud the author for her very polished efforts. Just because you have a story to tell, it doesn't mean you have the talent to do it well. It is even more astonishing knowing of the trauma and pain she herself went through. Fortunately, the sprinkle of humor that relieves the tension of sorrow made the author appear even more courageous and bonded me with the material. This could be an amazing support for any women that is undergoing the same experiences. Almost like having a best friend at you side. This book does a wonderful job of holding your hand. I give the author a 6th star for her bravery!

[Petrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely story. The subject area made me think it would be really depressing but I enjoyed the way that the writer put her own slant on her experience in a way that left me feeling that she will one day get her dream, and if she doesn't she will survive. I liked it a lot and would recommend to anyone going through a personal challenge and how you need to find a different perspective. I think is book will be a great success.. Thank you for your story.

[Mary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a compelling story about a woman struggle to conceive. Though sad at times, it is artfully written and deeply engaging. This is a struggle many women face and could benefit from this book. Highly Recommend.

[Jack Magnus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

a successful professional woman who enjoyed her single life and friends through her twenties and into her thirties. When she met the man who would become her best friend, lover and eventually her husband, she saw their relationship as a continuation of that single life. They were both successful and able to afford a lifestyle that included dinners in Michelin star restaurants and vacation trips to exotic locales while still having enough funds left over to put away for their dream house. A random meeting with another couple, who were dining at an adjacent table in a restaurant one evening, started Rachel considering the future and her long-held dream of becoming a mother. The woman was a bit older than Rachel and so far had been unable to conceive, even after several years of active attempts, monitoring and IVF treatments. The woman confronted Rachel directly and almost seemed to demand that she come to terms with her biological clock and diminishing time to start a family. While Rachel felt for the woman and her desperate plight, she found it hard to comprehend the intensity of the woman’s interest in Rachel’s own situation. But her words and predicament struck a chord deep in Rachel’s psyche.

Rachel McGrath’s nonfiction memoir, Finding the Rainbow, charts her and her husband’s efforts to have a child. She shares with the reader her initial ambivalence and realization that the lifestyle she and her husband enjoyed as a childless couple would be changed forever once they started a family. At the same time, she had to consider the dream she had as a child of having her own growing brood by her early twenties and began to wonder if her continued delay would jeopardize her chances of making the dream a reality. I was struck by her honesty and candor as she considered that childhood plan for her future through the eyes of her adult self. Her description of that awful Valentine’s Day dinner when she broached the subject to her husband, and was dismayed by his disinterest in having children, reveals clearly her feeling that childbearing was an imperative. McGrath skillfully weaves the story of their reaching out for the Rainbow Child into a most compelling true-life story. Finding the Rainbow is highly recommended.

[Reviewsbypaige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I was a little nervous about reviewing Finding The Rainbow (reviewing the events of a real person can always be daunting) I found myself really enjoying this novel and actually looking forward to reviewing it. Rachel McGrath does a wonderful job at taking her readers on such a personally emotional journey. I really liked the fact that Rachel McGrath answers the questions I think a lot of us were wondering about. Such as: “Would you go back and do things differently had you known about the struggles you would face?” I loved that she doesn’t ever beat around the bush, she gives her readers very straight forward answers and often times will talk about events that happened in her life which lead to the answer she is giving for the question asked. I found my respect for Rachel McGrath growing immensely as I made my way through this novel. I feel as though so many people would have had a child they weren’t ready for just out of fear they may never have the opportunity again. Rachel however; was able to clearly sense the fact that at that time in her life, she wasn’t ready to have children. To have such a strong sense of yourself at such a young age is truly admirable. I really enjoyed Rachel’s writing style throughout the novel; it came across as very experienced, while still managing to keep her readers hooked and making us laugh every now and then. I feel I am so much more knowledgeable about the difficulties some people face while trying to conceive and how this can affect not only the individual person, but also the people around them. Another factor I really enjoyed about this novel is that you don’t necessarily need to be an expert on the subject. Rachel McGrath does a wonderful job at answering the majority of questions her readers may have. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who has experienced difficulties while trying to conceive, someone who has been in a similar situation as Rachel and her husband have, or anyone who is just looking for a greatly written novel!

Finding the Rainbow can be found on amazon.com.au, amazon.co.uk, and amazon.com

[Tegan Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Finding the Rainbow, Rachel McGrath invites us to witness her story of struggle, loss, and hope in this beautifully written book. With a tone that's honest, entertaining, and sometimes heartbreaking, this memoir captures the ups and downs of trying to conceive and maintain a pregnancy.

As Rachel's story unfolded, I found myself cheering for her and her husband, and then sharing their sorrow when their hopes were dashed. She touches on a number of important issues in telling her story: medical staff who lack the compassion and sensitivity that's necessary in dealing with women going through infertility and/or recurrent pregnancy loss, the feelings of "what now?," and balancing how much to tell friends and family along the way.

As a woman who experienced a miscarriage after investing emotionally and financially in an in vitro fertilization cycle, I know firsthand what it's like to go in for an early ultrasound and be told there's no heartbeat and the fetus measurements are too small. I hope that this book will help more people understand the pain, anguish, and disappointment that bombards women in these moments. Rachel's writing certainly captures the experience accurately.

If you or anyone you know has experienced recurrent miscarriages, I highly recommend this book. It's also a great read for anyone who has experienced the roller coaster ride that's so much a part of trying to conceive. Rachel's book is a fantastic contribution to raising public awareness and compassion for the many people around the world who struggle to achieve pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby.

[Max Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hats off to a writer with the courage to share such a deeply personal memoir. Here Rachel gives account of her attempts to conceive and the resultant multiple miscarriages, as well as the heartbreak and trauma along the way. It felt very honest, emotional and touching but didn't wander too deep into the abyss for me as a reader which made it quite endearing. Perhaps it was the structure, short chapters keeping my attention, sometimes it was simply the positivity humour and hope. Near the end there are chapters called 'no rain no rainbow' and over the rainbow which I think reflects the character of the writer very well indeed. It is informative and at times difficult but interspersed with such clever touches that I really enjoyed this book. Struggling to conceive, people inevitably seek advice and information from a variety of sources. One chapter gets this really well - what did Google say... Need I say more. I never read other reviews before I write mine, but here I was tempted to look at reviewers names and as I suspected, I could only directly figure one male review. There may be more as it can be hard to tell. The title cover and subject matter, no doubt contribute to the gender bias in readership but I would encourage male readers to dip their toe in here also. I for one, read this book in a twenty four hour period which in itself is a big compliment. Not my usual read for sure but all the more deserving of 5 stars for that very reason. Well done Rachel McGrath.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very impressive book. The author must have found it quite difficult to open up so much about her personal experience of trying to get pregnant and I applaud her for her courage. The book takes us through her failed pregnancies and her attempts to get pregnant in minute detail, taking us onto the emotional and physical rollercoaster ride that her life has been.
I imagine this to be very useful to people who are in the same situation. I know a few couples in my circle of friends who are challenged in the reproductive area and so I thought that I knew a fair bit about the problems that can occur. Far from it. As the author states: every experience is different and every couple is different. This book tells only her story but it surely opened my eyes and made me see how much more complictated it gets, and how much lies in the details.
Written in accessible and simple prose this has no pretence. McGrath tells it all, brave and hopeful, informative and encouraging. Highly recommended.

[Laurie Prim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding the Rainbow is Rachel’s story of recurrent miscarriage and her ongoing reproductive journey. I read it in two nights, and while I hated what she has been through, I loved her book. Her voice is vibrant, honest, and hopeful. I completely related with so many aspects of pregnancy loss that she discussed- the recurrent grief, the obsessive, all-consuming thoughts, the brutal swings between excitement and devastation, how lost she felt when she wasn’t able to control having a baby, the appreciation of compassionate care givers and astonished disgust of apathetic, negligent ones. Through it all, you hear Rachel’s love of her husband and her life, and her unyielding belief that she will find her rainbow. Rachel has known unbearable sorrow, but Finding The Rainbow is a story of strength and hope.
I’m looking forward to Rachel’s next book (and I hope it’s titled, Found The Rainbow!).
- See more at: http://laurieprim.com/index.php/2015/...

[May Sage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.
I'm one of those, the Darcyers, once my mind is made up, that's it.
I've decided I don't do non-fiction. I've decided I can't relate to anyone above thirty-five. I've decided I don't want to have children of my own.
This book fell on my laps and it smashed everything I believe in. Seriously.
First of all, although it's non fiction the writing is engaging, delightfully sarcastic and makes for an interesting read. You just need to know how it ends! I'll definitely follow this author and see what else she got up her sleeve.
Secondly, it doesn't matter who you are, you will relate to this down to earth, genuine writer.
And lastly, damn, it does make you think about a thing or two. I'm not saying I'm going to go and just make babies tonight, but the "oh I don't want one and I never will" definitely has gone out the window. It's now in the "seriously think about it" part of my brain, for all the right reasons.

[Michael Wilton]

Chasing the dream


In this frank and honest account, the reader begins to appreciate the amount of physical and mental anguish that the author must have suffered in her epic journey in search of her elusive Rainbow Baby. After suffering multiple miscarriages, others in her situation might well have given up on the spot, especially when surrounded by friends happily nearing the end of the same journey.
It called for a special kind of perseverance and courage to go on trying, despite the odds stacked up against her, even more so when she chose to re-live the whole exhausting experience by sharing it with others, in the hope it would help them in the same quest.
Let’s hope that with the steadfast support of her husband and friends – not forgetting Coco the puppy - the author might one day look forward to her dreams being realised.
This is an inspiring story, well worth reading, and one that will tug at the heart strings.
MW

[Paola Branas-Born · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes you on a personal journey, one filled with joy anticipation, apprehension, sadness and many doses of hope. This private journey of fertility and loss is not new to me. Having also gone through many years of infertility to finally get to the other side, I could empathise with the author on many levels. As the reader you ache with the author on many occasions, you celebrate with her and then experience the roller coaster of emotions when there is disappointment. This is a modern story of what many couples are facing as 1 in 6 is in this situation, they are not alone. The author sheds light on the issue and you are left thinking that there is much more to their story. I look forward to reading the sequel.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rainbow, by Rachel McGrath, is a moving account of the author’s journey for a child. It takes courage to put pen to paper, and I commend Rachel McGrath’s courage to write so openly about her experience. It is an emotional read, but very informative. McGrath’s writing style is engaging, and you really connect to her on spiritual level. McGrath wrote her story in a vivid, personal and educational prose that does not make you feel uncomfortable or lost in medical jargon. I do not know anyone who is battling like McGrath, but her book gave me an understanding on how to be supportive.

Honestly, I feel that “The Rainbow” is a gift for those who are going through the same battle and feel alienated. McGrath is a very courageous and strong woman. I highly recommend this book.

[K. French · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Finding the Rainbow’ is a well-written, heartfelt and honest account about realising that your dreams and hopes of becoming a mother might actually not turn out as you’d wished for or planned. It was real, it didn’t hold back and it dealt with issues that not everyone feels comfortable discussing, partly because, as the author points out, unless you are actually experiencing it, there isn’t a lot you can say to make it right. I really enjoyed it. I was engaged from the outset. I felt included and, as a result, I felt frustrated and angry at times and also sad but I finished the book feeling hopeful.