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Plan A
A sixteen-year-old girl’s road trip across the country to get an abortion becomes a transformative journey of vulnerability, strength, and above all, choice. From the acclaimed author of A Heart in a Body in the World, this is both an achingly tender love story and a bold, badly needed battle cry about bodily autonomy and the experiences that connect us.
Ivy can’t entirely believe it when the plus sign appears on the test. She didn’t even know it was possible from . . . what happened. But it is, and now she is, and instead of spending the summer working at the local drugstore and swooning over her boyfriend, Lorenzo, suddenly she’s planning a cross-country road trip to her grandmother’s house on the West Coast, where she can legally obtain an abortion.
Escaping her small Texas town and the judgment of her friends and neighbors, Ivy hits the road with Lorenzo, who, determined to make the best of their “abortion road trip love story,” has transformed the journey into a whirlwind tour of the world: all the way from Paris, Texas, to Rome, Oregon . . . and every rest-stop diner and corny roadside attraction along the way.
And while Ivy can’t run from the incessant pressure of others’ opinions about her body or from her own expectations and insecurities, she discovers a new world of healing and hope. As the women she encounters share their stories, she chips away at the stigma, silence, and shame surrounding reproductive rights while those collective experiences guide her to her own rightful destination.
Ivy can’t entirely believe it when the plus sign appears on the test. She didn’t even know it was possible from . . . what happened. But it is, and now she is, and instead of spending the summer working at the local drugstore and swooning over her boyfriend, Lorenzo, suddenly she’s planning a cross-country road trip to her grandmother’s house on the West Coast, where she can legally obtain an abortion.
Escaping her small Texas town and the judgment of her friends and neighbors, Ivy hits the road with Lorenzo, who, determined to make the best of their “abortion road trip love story,” has transformed the journey into a whirlwind tour of the world: all the way from Paris, Texas, to Rome, Oregon . . . and every rest-stop diner and corny roadside attraction along the way.
And while Ivy can’t run from the incessant pressure of others’ opinions about her body or from her own expectations and insecurities, she discovers a new world of healing and hope. As the women she encounters share their stories, she chips away at the stigma, silence, and shame surrounding reproductive rights while those collective experiences guide her to her own rightful destination.
409 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2023
53 people are currently reading
1803 people want to read
About the author
Deb Caletti
37 books2,277 followersDeb Caletti is the award-winning and critically acclaimed author of over twenty books for adults and young adults, including Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, a finalist for the National Book Award, and A Heart in a Body in the World, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. Her books have also won the Josette Frank Award for Fiction, the Washington State Book Award, and numerous other state awards and honors, and she was a finalist for the PEN USA Award. She lives with her family in Seattle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
January 10, 2024
I am a pretty conservative, pro-life Christian, which is why I made the choice to read this book (you see what I did there). I'm not someone who will actively promote abortion, but I understand that it is a very personal decision that some women have to make for themselves. Ivy is a normal, well-spoken, and intelligent sixteen-year-old that has overwhelming decisions to make .
While I wish Ivy would have kept her baby, I understand why she couldn't. Even though this is a work of fiction, it is based on reality. Unfortunately, we don't live in a world where women (or young girls) are supported for conceiving outside of marriage. Even though people talk a good talk about being pro-life, there is overwhelming shame and stigmatism if you don't have children the "right way". The sad thing is that I personally know people who would treat Ivy the way she was treated and it makes me so sad. This is a very humanistic approach to a very serious topic. I don't think this book advocates for abortion but expresses the reality of thousands of women who have been in Ivy's shoes.
If you want a longer review you can check out my blog post here: Plan A Review
While I wish Ivy would have kept her baby, I understand why she couldn't. Even though this is a work of fiction, it is based on reality. Unfortunately, we don't live in a world where women (or young girls) are supported for conceiving outside of marriage. Even though people talk a good talk about being pro-life, there is overwhelming shame and stigmatism if you don't have children the "right way". The sad thing is that I personally know people who would treat Ivy the way she was treated and it makes me so sad. This is a very humanistic approach to a very serious topic. I don't think this book advocates for abortion but expresses the reality of thousands of women who have been in Ivy's shoes.
If you want a longer review you can check out my blog post here: Plan A Review
May 18, 2023
ARC Provided by Random House and NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
It's funny. A few months ago I was discussing teen pregnancy books in a group chat after reading yet another book in which the teen in question went through with the pregnancy. I asked my group, where are the teen abortion books? We agreed there should be a book in which a teenager in a state with a heartbeat law has to procure an abortion. Maybe I'll write it, I joked. That's a book that teenagers need. Because let's face it, teen abortion is a lot more common than teen motherhood, and there's still a big stigma around it, whether you're in a Red state or not.
Then, lo and behold, a few months later Plan A showed up! Just the book I was looking for!
There is a lot to like about this book, and only a few small nitpicks. First, the good stuff:
Ivy, the main character, makes the decision to have an abortion quickly and with very little drama about the decision itself. Too often the decision to have an abortion or not is portrayed as something agonizing, when a lot of times it just isn't. A lot of times it's simply the sensible thing to do. Ivy doesn't even consider keeping the baby. There are times when she contemplates motherhood in an abstract way, thinking about the one day children she will have with someone she loves when she is ready to be a good mother.
The abortion itself is simple and easy, and finished in about fifteen minutes. Having had a first trimester abortion myself, I found the portrayal was very realistic. A big theme in this book is that abortion is commonplace and has always been commonplace. It seems like Ivy keeps running into people who have had abortions, but it's not unrealistic, it's simply the truth of the matter. More people have had abortions than you realize.
Ivy is a sympathetic character. A regular girl who has lived in small town Texas her whole live, although her mother comes from Oregon. Ivy imagines herself going to community college and then on to a modest state school because she doesn't think her family will be able to afford anything else. She is very much like a lot of my own students in small town Texas-- a nice kid with modest dreams but who also feels sometimes like an outsider in her small town. Due to her West Coast mother, Ivy has more liberal views than the rest of her family. Her boyfriend is a California transplant and neither of them quite fit into the Paris, TX culture. They aren't part of the old boys' network, of the church community, they haven't lived there for generations. When the town turns on Ivy, they are not turning on one of their own, they're turning on an outsider. It feels realistic, if a bit over the top (more on this in a moment). The love story with Ivys boyfriend, Lorenzo (who is not actually responsible for her pregnancy, but is nevertheless supportive) is sweet, even though its mostly eclipsed by the larger issue.
There is, I think, a bit of an exaggeration to the town's reaction to Ivy getting an abortion. Paris, TX is a town with over 20,000 people which is, by small town Texas standards, a substantial number. It is an overwhelmingly Red town, but nevertheless, in 2020 there were about 5000 people who voted for Biden in Lamar Co. The small town in Texas where I live, by comparison, is about 1/3 of the seize of Paris, but I will admit that it's politically a lot more mixed. That said, the town seems incredibly invested in one teenager girl. After the abortion is done, when Ivy returns, she is hounded, bullied, and harassed for having had an abortion. She loses her job, CPS is called on her mother, her car is vandalized, and she loses all of her friends, even her best friend from childhood. In my experience, the pressure on individual women in Texas is usually much more subtle, and the idea is to stop the abortion from happening in the first place (even bounty laws are about this, fundementally-- taking away a woman's support system and scaring people out of helping). I'm not saying this sort of post-abortion harassment never happens, but the extremes that Ivy experiences seem to feed into a Blue State Doomerism about Red States that is then reinforced by Ivy's family's ultimate decision to flee Texas and move to Oregon.
And my main complaint comes back to this Blue State Doomerism about Red States. I am not sure, ultimately, if this book was written for small town Texas teenagers or Blue State kids raised in progressive bubbles. Small town Texas kids are the ones who need a book like this the most. Most teenagers who find themselves pregnant in small town Texas and end up needing an abortion do not have the option to travel to Oregon (abortion remains legal in our neighboring state, New Mexico, which is where most would go). Nor do they have the option to pack up and leave and flee to a Blue state. "Just leave" is what those of us in Texas are told time and time again, and it was a bit frustrating to see Ivy seem to make the "stay and fight" choice only for her to decide there was nothing to fight for. Ivy herself has a kind of protective attitude about Paris, TX, that I found very realistic. She likes the place, but it has become permanently marred for her, and yet I refuse to believe there's not another side to the town. Individually, I understand why Ivy's family leaves. Her mom is from Oregon. They have family there. Mom conveniently finds a job within a few months of looking. It all lines up perfectly, but what about the girls who cannot flee to Oregon? There are real life Ivys who have to stay in their small towns, so what do they do?
I kept waiting for Ivy to link up with local activists and find those people in Texas who are fighting for our state. They do exist! Grassroots abortion rights activist organizations in Texas are a huge part of the pro-choice movement and a massive and powerful force, and they exist everywhere, if you look. Young people in Texas are this state's hope for the future and they have to know that there are people here who are willing to fight with them. Where I live, even our local coffee shop has pamphlets about what to do if you need an abortion. This, in a town of 6000 people. La Frontera, the Texas Equal Access Fund, the Lilith Fund... there are so many! Ultimately, it would have been more satisfying to me if Ivy discovered not only how common abortion is, but how many people are fighting not just in Oregon and other Blue States, but right at home in Texas.
It's funny. A few months ago I was discussing teen pregnancy books in a group chat after reading yet another book in which the teen in question went through with the pregnancy. I asked my group, where are the teen abortion books? We agreed there should be a book in which a teenager in a state with a heartbeat law has to procure an abortion. Maybe I'll write it, I joked. That's a book that teenagers need. Because let's face it, teen abortion is a lot more common than teen motherhood, and there's still a big stigma around it, whether you're in a Red state or not.
Then, lo and behold, a few months later Plan A showed up! Just the book I was looking for!
There is a lot to like about this book, and only a few small nitpicks. First, the good stuff:
Ivy, the main character, makes the decision to have an abortion quickly and with very little drama about the decision itself. Too often the decision to have an abortion or not is portrayed as something agonizing, when a lot of times it just isn't. A lot of times it's simply the sensible thing to do. Ivy doesn't even consider keeping the baby. There are times when she contemplates motherhood in an abstract way, thinking about the one day children she will have with someone she loves when she is ready to be a good mother.
The abortion itself is simple and easy, and finished in about fifteen minutes. Having had a first trimester abortion myself, I found the portrayal was very realistic. A big theme in this book is that abortion is commonplace and has always been commonplace. It seems like Ivy keeps running into people who have had abortions, but it's not unrealistic, it's simply the truth of the matter. More people have had abortions than you realize.
Ivy is a sympathetic character. A regular girl who has lived in small town Texas her whole live, although her mother comes from Oregon. Ivy imagines herself going to community college and then on to a modest state school because she doesn't think her family will be able to afford anything else. She is very much like a lot of my own students in small town Texas-- a nice kid with modest dreams but who also feels sometimes like an outsider in her small town. Due to her West Coast mother, Ivy has more liberal views than the rest of her family. Her boyfriend is a California transplant and neither of them quite fit into the Paris, TX culture. They aren't part of the old boys' network, of the church community, they haven't lived there for generations. When the town turns on Ivy, they are not turning on one of their own, they're turning on an outsider. It feels realistic, if a bit over the top (more on this in a moment). The love story with Ivys boyfriend, Lorenzo (who is not actually responsible for her pregnancy, but is nevertheless supportive) is sweet, even though its mostly eclipsed by the larger issue.
There is, I think, a bit of an exaggeration to the town's reaction to Ivy getting an abortion. Paris, TX is a town with over 20,000 people which is, by small town Texas standards, a substantial number. It is an overwhelmingly Red town, but nevertheless, in 2020 there were about 5000 people who voted for Biden in Lamar Co. The small town in Texas where I live, by comparison, is about 1/3 of the seize of Paris, but I will admit that it's politically a lot more mixed. That said, the town seems incredibly invested in one teenager girl. After the abortion is done, when Ivy returns, she is hounded, bullied, and harassed for having had an abortion. She loses her job, CPS is called on her mother, her car is vandalized, and she loses all of her friends, even her best friend from childhood. In my experience, the pressure on individual women in Texas is usually much more subtle, and the idea is to stop the abortion from happening in the first place (even bounty laws are about this, fundementally-- taking away a woman's support system and scaring people out of helping). I'm not saying this sort of post-abortion harassment never happens, but the extremes that Ivy experiences seem to feed into a Blue State Doomerism about Red States that is then reinforced by Ivy's family's ultimate decision to flee Texas and move to Oregon.
And my main complaint comes back to this Blue State Doomerism about Red States. I am not sure, ultimately, if this book was written for small town Texas teenagers or Blue State kids raised in progressive bubbles. Small town Texas kids are the ones who need a book like this the most. Most teenagers who find themselves pregnant in small town Texas and end up needing an abortion do not have the option to travel to Oregon (abortion remains legal in our neighboring state, New Mexico, which is where most would go). Nor do they have the option to pack up and leave and flee to a Blue state. "Just leave" is what those of us in Texas are told time and time again, and it was a bit frustrating to see Ivy seem to make the "stay and fight" choice only for her to decide there was nothing to fight for. Ivy herself has a kind of protective attitude about Paris, TX, that I found very realistic. She likes the place, but it has become permanently marred for her, and yet I refuse to believe there's not another side to the town. Individually, I understand why Ivy's family leaves. Her mom is from Oregon. They have family there. Mom conveniently finds a job within a few months of looking. It all lines up perfectly, but what about the girls who cannot flee to Oregon? There are real life Ivys who have to stay in their small towns, so what do they do?
I kept waiting for Ivy to link up with local activists and find those people in Texas who are fighting for our state. They do exist! Grassroots abortion rights activist organizations in Texas are a huge part of the pro-choice movement and a massive and powerful force, and they exist everywhere, if you look. Young people in Texas are this state's hope for the future and they have to know that there are people here who are willing to fight with them. Where I live, even our local coffee shop has pamphlets about what to do if you need an abortion. This, in a town of 6000 people. La Frontera, the Texas Equal Access Fund, the Lilith Fund... there are so many! Ultimately, it would have been more satisfying to me if Ivy discovered not only how common abortion is, but how many people are fighting not just in Oregon and other Blue States, but right at home in Texas.
October 4, 2023
THIS. BOOK!! My first by this bestselling author, it is definitely going down as one of the most important and powerful YA reads of 2023!!
Set in small town Texas, this is not your usual YA summer road trip romance. The characters themselves dub it their "abortion road trip love story" and it IS that but also SO MUCH MORE!!! Ivy is a fifteen year old girl who finds herself pregnant after getting forced into a nonconsensual sexual encounter (not technically rape, but still a situation no one should find themselves in).
Left reeling, least of all because she is already over the six week deadline to get a legal abortion in Texas. Thankfully Ivy's mother is super supportive and allows her to go on a road trip to Oregon, where her grandmother lives and where abortions are legal.
Traveling with her friend and not yet boyfriend, Lorenzo, (not the father of the baby), Ivy finds herself slowly falling more and more in love with the steadfast, solid boy beside her while also hearing about a number of other women's own pregnancy and abortion stories.
She learns that 1 in 4 women have abortions and its a more common thing that's happened from the time men and women were having sex. Learning that "you don't know you're in a secret network until you're in it" is one of the lessons her aunt imparts and it's so true!
This book will make you RAGE and CRY along with Ivy as she learns just how lucky she is to have the support and means to obtain a legal abortion when SO many others in America don't. Books like this one are more important than ever and I'm so glad the author wrote this one and teens like Ivy will be able to learn they aren't alone.
FANTASTIC on audio narrated by Jorjeana Marie, this book read almost like a spoken word poem. While I did find the narrator a bit slow-speaking (I listened in an app that didn't go past 2x), overall her performance was captivating and so well done! Many thanks to @prhaudio for the complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!!!
CW: abortion, sexual abuse, parent with cancer, slut-shaming, homophobia
Set in small town Texas, this is not your usual YA summer road trip romance. The characters themselves dub it their "abortion road trip love story" and it IS that but also SO MUCH MORE!!! Ivy is a fifteen year old girl who finds herself pregnant after getting forced into a nonconsensual sexual encounter (not technically rape, but still a situation no one should find themselves in).
Left reeling, least of all because she is already over the six week deadline to get a legal abortion in Texas. Thankfully Ivy's mother is super supportive and allows her to go on a road trip to Oregon, where her grandmother lives and where abortions are legal.
Traveling with her friend and not yet boyfriend, Lorenzo, (not the father of the baby), Ivy finds herself slowly falling more and more in love with the steadfast, solid boy beside her while also hearing about a number of other women's own pregnancy and abortion stories.
She learns that 1 in 4 women have abortions and its a more common thing that's happened from the time men and women were having sex. Learning that "you don't know you're in a secret network until you're in it" is one of the lessons her aunt imparts and it's so true!
This book will make you RAGE and CRY along with Ivy as she learns just how lucky she is to have the support and means to obtain a legal abortion when SO many others in America don't. Books like this one are more important than ever and I'm so glad the author wrote this one and teens like Ivy will be able to learn they aren't alone.
FANTASTIC on audio narrated by Jorjeana Marie, this book read almost like a spoken word poem. While I did find the narrator a bit slow-speaking (I listened in an app that didn't go past 2x), overall her performance was captivating and so well done! Many thanks to @prhaudio for the complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!!!
CW: abortion, sexual abuse, parent with cancer, slut-shaming, homophobia
November 29, 2023
I can appreciate the premise of this book because in our current climate, with the overturning of Roe v Wade, its a reality many women and even teen girls, like the main character here, will face. However, as a story, this read as a lofty premise supported by a pretty mediocre story. The main character felt obnoxiously immature for a 16 year old, her "love" interest felt obnoxiously mature for a teen himself, and so much of the story is carried by the premise and not any actual storytelling. At times, it felt like the author took planned parenthood stats and dropped them into the confines of a story in the most inauthentic and forced ways. Also, the way that the Main character became pregnant was a cop out. It actually would have been more poignant for her pregnancy to be the result of the teen love and hormones as opposed to SA. It felt like her pregnancy being a result of SA was done to make her pregnancy more digestible, but that thinking runs counter to the entire premise of the book. Ultimately, this story tried to do a lot, did none of it particularly well, but overall, I still felt like the premise IS important.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2023
On Wednesday, I finally finished reading all of the books for the Excellence in Nonfiction award. I pre-ordered this as soon as Caletti posted about it. It's been sitting on the loveseat chair ever since it arrived, begging me to start reading. But being mature, I waited until I finished award reading. I started it yesterday and read all day today. So many "feels." First and most intense, the sadness of living in Texas with our horrible, backward, misogynist legislators. I applaud those who are fighting these terrible abortion laws here in Texas, and there are many although they often work in fear and underground. Next, it was, as always, a good read that drew me in and made me want to hurry to get to the next page. If I were still in my library, in today's Texas extreme book banning climate, it would most likely have to be one of those books kept in my office to secretly give to readers I knew who needed to read it. (It's amazing how much sharing students do with the school librarian.) It will definitely be on my reading list for next semesters Trends and Issues Seminar: Young Adult. One last comment: my dissertation was on the role of Protestant Christianity in Young Adult Literature. This will go on the shelf with other books on the topic, at least until I find a reader who needs this book. Thank you, Deb Caletti.
September 7, 2023
PLAN A tells the story of Ivy, a sixteen-year-old girl, and her road trip with her boyfriend, Lorenzo, to get an abortion, as it's illegal in her home state. Along the way, she hears the stories of family members and friends who have had similar experiences, and she realizes her journey isn't as rare as she thought.
This was a powerful story, and I'm really glad I read it.
Ivy is a strong and deeply relatable character. When she found out she was pregnant, she knew immediately that she wanted an abortion; it wasn't a difficult decision for her. And when she got the procedure, it wasn't a complicated or dramatic scene; it was portrayed as the simple medical procedure that it is. I really appreciated the honesty in this story and how sincere it felt.
Another (unfortunately) realistic aspect of this book was the town's perception of Ivy. Ivy lives in a Red town in a Red state, and her community is openly against her decision to have an abortion. Though it was hard to read how horribly Ivy was treated, it felt like an honest ending that everyone in the town didn't magically end up accepting her decision just for the sake of a happy ending.
I loved Ivy and Lorenzo's relationship. Even though Lorenzo wasn't the one who got Ivy pregnant, he stuck by her side throughout the entire story and vocally supported her. I thought they were sweet together.
The ending was satisfying as well. I appreciated that it wasn't rushed after Ivy had the abortion and that we got to see the aftermath and how Ivy and her family handled it. The resolution was earned and given the space it needed, which I always love.
My main concern with the book was the sometimes inconsistent writing style. The writing varied from gripping and poignant to awkward and stilted when it wasn't meant to be, and at times the dialogue sounded forced, while at others it was much more natural. However, even though the story is informative, it never felt preachy, which can be a difficult balance to maintain.
Regardless, I think this is an important book and would recommend reading it.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a powerful story, and I'm really glad I read it.
Ivy is a strong and deeply relatable character. When she found out she was pregnant, she knew immediately that she wanted an abortion; it wasn't a difficult decision for her. And when she got the procedure, it wasn't a complicated or dramatic scene; it was portrayed as the simple medical procedure that it is. I really appreciated the honesty in this story and how sincere it felt.
Another (unfortunately) realistic aspect of this book was the town's perception of Ivy. Ivy lives in a Red town in a Red state, and her community is openly against her decision to have an abortion. Though it was hard to read how horribly Ivy was treated, it felt like an honest ending that everyone in the town didn't magically end up accepting her decision just for the sake of a happy ending.
I loved Ivy and Lorenzo's relationship. Even though Lorenzo wasn't the one who got Ivy pregnant, he stuck by her side throughout the entire story and vocally supported her. I thought they were sweet together.
The ending was satisfying as well. I appreciated that it wasn't rushed after Ivy had the abortion and that we got to see the aftermath and how Ivy and her family handled it. The resolution was earned and given the space it needed, which I always love.
My main concern with the book was the sometimes inconsistent writing style. The writing varied from gripping and poignant to awkward and stilted when it wasn't meant to be, and at times the dialogue sounded forced, while at others it was much more natural. However, even though the story is informative, it never felt preachy, which can be a difficult balance to maintain.
Regardless, I think this is an important book and would recommend reading it.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 23, 2023
“Why does it suddenly seem like there’s a sea of abortion stories? Because there’s always been a sea of stories about women and sex. Stories about women and the choices they make and don’t make—those, too. There are the stories that she’s never told, but there are the stories he does tell, that they tell, about her”.
This book, once released, will 100% get banned somewhere and it’ll be an absolute shame. A teenage girl in Texas, Ivy, becomes pregnant after a sexual assault and decided to go on a road trip with her boyfriend (not the father) to get an abortion in a state that allows it. It is such an important story about choice and personal decisions, but also about the way women who make this decision are wrongfully vilified. I felt like it was incredibly accurate and not at all over dramatic or blown out of proportion to prove some liberal point. I grew up in Texas in a school and church environment very similar to Ivy’s and people’s reaction to her choice to have an abortion was spot on, in my opinion. The thing I liked most about this story was Ivy hearing stories from other women in her family and life and their experiences with abortion. I will say, the story did drag a bit in certain parts of the road trip, but the way this topic was handled more than made up for that. I really loved Ivy’s mother, brother and boyfriend. Her having their support made all the difference and it broke my heart thinking of all the women who didn’t or don’t have that support. I think this is an extremely important book and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
TW: Abortion, bullying, sexual assault, mentions of a shooting, sexual harassment, mentions of forced medical procedures and sterilization
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book, once released, will 100% get banned somewhere and it’ll be an absolute shame. A teenage girl in Texas, Ivy, becomes pregnant after a sexual assault and decided to go on a road trip with her boyfriend (not the father) to get an abortion in a state that allows it. It is such an important story about choice and personal decisions, but also about the way women who make this decision are wrongfully vilified. I felt like it was incredibly accurate and not at all over dramatic or blown out of proportion to prove some liberal point. I grew up in Texas in a school and church environment very similar to Ivy’s and people’s reaction to her choice to have an abortion was spot on, in my opinion. The thing I liked most about this story was Ivy hearing stories from other women in her family and life and their experiences with abortion. I will say, the story did drag a bit in certain parts of the road trip, but the way this topic was handled more than made up for that. I really loved Ivy’s mother, brother and boyfriend. Her having their support made all the difference and it broke my heart thinking of all the women who didn’t or don’t have that support. I think this is an extremely important book and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
TW: Abortion, bullying, sexual assault, mentions of a shooting, sexual harassment, mentions of forced medical procedures and sterilization
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 22, 2023
I'll be honest, I picked this up because I ordered this book for my library collection and I wanted to read Plan A once it came in because I'm a librarian in Texas. I knew Caletti would approach the story with nuance and thoughtfulness and love, like she always does with complicated topics. Ivy's story is well worth reading, offering up the stories of many women while Ivy works through her own feelings about seeking an abortion. It's gently funny and incredibly real. The connection to Tess of the d'Urbervilles lends the story a classic touch. Lorenzo is fantastic, as are Ivy's mom and brother and grandma. I'm glad I read this, for many reasons.
May 23, 2023
Ivy, a sixteen year old living in Texas, finds herself unimaginably pregnant in a state that has banned abortions. She's not ready to be a mother and has been trying to earn enough money to go away to college and escape her claustrophobic small town. A cross-country trip with her boyfriend brings them closer together than ever and opens Ivy's eyes to just how not-alone she is in her predicament. Caletti successfully incorporates a lot of information about abortion into a touching and realistic story. She doesn't end the book when readers might expect, letting us see some of the consequences of Ivy's trip and showing readers that no matter your choice, things will never be the same. It's an excellent and important book and the best that Caletti has written since A Heart in a Body in the World. Review from e-galley.
March 13, 2024
I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book, but I didn't find what I was looking for. It definitely had a pro-choice stance, which is fine with me, but it just fell short on the delivery. I was looking for more of a story line, and I just never really got into this one.
August 3, 2024
dnf, the writing was so hard to follow and distinguish between thoughts i couldn’t get through the first couple chapters
July 26, 2023
3.5 stars - Thank you to NetGalley for a copy in exchange for a review
PLAN A details the story of Ivy, a 17 year old girl who needs an abortion in a state where it is illegal. Along the way, Ivy heard the stories of other women who were in her place. These connections are woven beautifully into the story, and it looks at reproductive issues from all angles. I really enjoyed this book, seeing Ivy process her emotions and seeing her learn about how other women have been in her place.
PLAN A details the story of Ivy, a 17 year old girl who needs an abortion in a state where it is illegal. Along the way, Ivy heard the stories of other women who were in her place. These connections are woven beautifully into the story, and it looks at reproductive issues from all angles. I really enjoyed this book, seeing Ivy process her emotions and seeing her learn about how other women have been in her place.
August 12, 2025
A book I didn’t know that I needed to read. It is a great representation of everyday life in Southern US with lack of reproductive healthcare. This book at me so unbelievably emotional throughout. Every person that opens their mouth to talk about reproductive healthcare needs to read this book. You don’t know unless you walked a day in their shoes.
Nominated for 2026 Lincoln Award!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Nominated for 2026 Lincoln Award!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 7, 2023
I feel like everyone should read this book. You either are a woman or know a woman. It shows the good, the bad, the ugly. It incorporates both sides of “your choice.” I really wish abortion wasn’t such a touchy topic that people avoid talking about. 1 in 4 women have had an abortion. It needs to be talked about. It’s unreal how many women have personal stories to tell but feel too much shame and are afraid of backlash so they keep it buried deep down.
October 22, 2023
Deb Caletti always writes timely stories that explore the nuances of being female. While she writes for a young adult audience, her themes cross age barriers and are meaningful for readers of all ages. In Plan A, she presents a story that could be ripped from the headlines and does so in a way that makes you ache for the suffering of every person with a uterus in this post-Roe era.
Plan A is a beautiful story. Ms. Caletti approaches her subject matter with care. Never too preachy, she lets her characters share pertinent facts. Where Ms. Caletti shines, however, is in showcasing her characters' emotional toil. Not only do we see firsthand the turmoil Ivy experiences, but we also get to see how Ivy's story impacts her family and her boyfriend.
Plan A is not an easy read, but it is so powerful. Ms. Caletti perfectly captures the fears, loneliness, doubt, and general shock of an unexpected pregnancy. She does so while exploring the idea of choice. Again, she never pontificates. Neither does she condemn others for their beliefs. Instead, she presents one girl's situation and experiences that will, hopefully, allow readers to understand and empathize. Plan A is one of those books I want everyone to read. It is a subject that only Ms. Caletti could tackle, and I'm glad she did.
Plan A is a beautiful story. Ms. Caletti approaches her subject matter with care. Never too preachy, she lets her characters share pertinent facts. Where Ms. Caletti shines, however, is in showcasing her characters' emotional toil. Not only do we see firsthand the turmoil Ivy experiences, but we also get to see how Ivy's story impacts her family and her boyfriend.
Plan A is not an easy read, but it is so powerful. Ms. Caletti perfectly captures the fears, loneliness, doubt, and general shock of an unexpected pregnancy. She does so while exploring the idea of choice. Again, she never pontificates. Neither does she condemn others for their beliefs. Instead, she presents one girl's situation and experiences that will, hopefully, allow readers to understand and empathize. Plan A is one of those books I want everyone to read. It is a subject that only Ms. Caletti could tackle, and I'm glad she did.
October 5, 2023
WOW! Ivy (16) and her boyfriend Lorenzo (18) take a cross country trip from their home town of Paris. Texas to Tillamook, Oregon during their summer vacation. The reason for the journey, Ivy is pregnant and can’t get an abortion because her home state deemed it illegal. She was assaulted by her employers son and was afraid to say anything. Her boyfriend, being a gem of a human supporting her takes her along this journey. They stay in hotels, with family members and learn about all the women before her who have experienced what she is about to do. How 1 in 4 women have had to have an abortion for medical reasons. How it should be her choice because it is her body. How certain situations are life threatening and in certain states, it is still illegal.
After, they return home, charges are pressed against Lorenzo as he assisted Ivy, the town turns against her and her family and basically run them out of town. The ending, it’s really a chef’s kiss. The boyfriend, still a precious human, the mom and brother, priceless and the grandmother…we protect her at all costs.
A MUST READ.
After, they return home, charges are pressed against Lorenzo as he assisted Ivy, the town turns against her and her family and basically run them out of town. The ending, it’s really a chef’s kiss. The boyfriend, still a precious human, the mom and brother, priceless and the grandmother…we protect her at all costs.
A MUST READ.
March 24, 2024
“My body is still my body. It's not my enemy. I'm kind of proud of it, how hard it works and the stuff it has to endure in order to carry myself around.”
I seriously struggled with how to rate this, because while I think the subject matter is INCREDIBLY important and relevant, the writing was just sooo unbelievably cheesy and hard for me to look past. I've seen a lot of 5-star ratings on this one and I am sure it's because of the subject matter, but are we really looking past the immaturity of these characters!? I know it's young adult but whew...
When sixteen-year-old Ivy gets pregnant through a total and complete accident situation, her entire life is derailed. She doesn't want to keep the baby, but abortions are illegal in Texas after six weeks, and she's just crossed that threshold. Her boyfriend Lorenzo is completely supportive of her choice, and the two enter into the roadtrip of a lifetime, seeing the country on their way to stay with Ivy's grandmother in Oregon, where she can safely have an abortion.
Her family and boyfriend put their lives at risk, knowing they can be prosecuted for their involvement, and her support network quickly dwindles in her ultra-Christian, conservative community. But along the way, Lorenzo and Ivy hear the stories of generations of women who have had to make tough choices at every stage, which gives her the hope and encouragement to push through.
Like I said, infinitely important subject matter, and I do feel strongly that this is one everyone needs to read given the current political climate, but I do wish it wasn't written *so* cheesily. I think it being YA is great because this is a story young women need to hear, but we could've done a better job making the plot slightly less cringey? Does that make sense?
Anyways, this is one that is 5/5 for subject matter, and more like a 2/5 for writing style.
I seriously struggled with how to rate this, because while I think the subject matter is INCREDIBLY important and relevant, the writing was just sooo unbelievably cheesy and hard for me to look past. I've seen a lot of 5-star ratings on this one and I am sure it's because of the subject matter, but are we really looking past the immaturity of these characters!? I know it's young adult but whew...
When sixteen-year-old Ivy gets pregnant through a total and complete accident situation, her entire life is derailed. She doesn't want to keep the baby, but abortions are illegal in Texas after six weeks, and she's just crossed that threshold. Her boyfriend Lorenzo is completely supportive of her choice, and the two enter into the roadtrip of a lifetime, seeing the country on their way to stay with Ivy's grandmother in Oregon, where she can safely have an abortion.
Her family and boyfriend put their lives at risk, knowing they can be prosecuted for their involvement, and her support network quickly dwindles in her ultra-Christian, conservative community. But along the way, Lorenzo and Ivy hear the stories of generations of women who have had to make tough choices at every stage, which gives her the hope and encouragement to push through.
Like I said, infinitely important subject matter, and I do feel strongly that this is one everyone needs to read given the current political climate, but I do wish it wasn't written *so* cheesily. I think it being YA is great because this is a story young women need to hear, but we could've done a better job making the plot slightly less cringey? Does that make sense?
Anyways, this is one that is 5/5 for subject matter, and more like a 2/5 for writing style.
June 24, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley for providing the opportunity for me to read this book before it was released. I really liked all aspects of this book. At the core, it is a book about a teen trying to handle a major issue and the ups and downs that come along with it. I like the diversity that was represented by the main character's boyfriend. I like how supportive all the side characters are. I think this book will be great for a lot of teens to read. The way the actual abortion procedure in this book is discussed is something I think we should be doing more often. Ivy, the protagonist, didn't have a lot of wavering between decisions. She chose quickly. The procedure was simple. It's only after Ivy has the procedure that it becomes a huge problem for her. I think this book will be very relatable for young women. Due to new laws in my state, I'm not sure if I can recommend this book to as many people as I want to. Overall, it handled politics and teen issues very well, without any "kid gloves."
February 18, 2024
This book was about an unplanned pregnancy and I ended up listening on audio. Should have DNF’d. However, thank you to NetGalley & Random House for the ARC. Appreciated.
July 10, 2024
I loved this book. It was thought provoking and I thought she handled a sensitive situation that has turned extremely political in a very good way. I loved the characters.
February 4, 2025
While she may have insulted women who get abortions by making her teen protagonist so stupid, Deb Caletti masterfully depicts how abortion zealots can indeed be STOOPID.
Granted, the novel is a tedious read. Even the author herself (speaking through the narrator, of course) notes that the novel is “long. Very long. Four hundred and two pages long. Thirty-nine chapters” (401; italics in original). Many more interesting things began occurring in the world when I started to plow through this work: the massive election win of President Trump, the beginning of the overthrow of the useless and anti-American Democratic Party, the elimination of racist programs like DEI in the federal government, etc. However, read it I did, if I want to be faithful to my duty as a pro-life English professor.
The plot is a standard, tired abortion story, a pattern used by Hemingway a century ago and Faulkner and Brautigan decades after him. Sixteen-year-old Ivy DeVries becomes pregnant, is helped in her quest to kill the unborn child by a boyfriend, accomplishes the killing, and thinks she’s freed from the “burden” of being pregnant (when, as everyone knows, she is, post-abortion, merely the mother of a dead unborn baby).
Caletti’s contribution to this standard abortion plot, however, has two nuances. Ivy becomes pregnant not by means of regular sex, but because another teen “stuck his penis near enough my vagina for sperm to make their unwanted journey to my egg” (253). That’s about the only raw, if not salacious, sexual element in the novel, Ivy’s first episode of sex with her boyfriend being a typical encounter that perhaps was meant to arouse teens but which adults in a marital covenant would find ridiculous.
The second nuance which Caletti makes to the standard abortion template is much more important: Ivy is a first-class idiot. I mean, the girl be dumb. Stupid, as in stoopid. If her first sexual episode with her boyfriend is laughable, then the stupidity which Ivy manifests throughout the novel would move the reader from chuckling at her ignorance as mere teenaged innocence, to scornful eye-rolls at her ignorant distortions of life-affirming feminist principles, to guffaws at her STOOPIDITY, especially when she illustrates how her pro-abortion distortion of feminist thinking blinds her to the logical fallacies and ironies of her own words.
Thus, this calculus makes the novel not only a joy to read, but also a literary tool which can be eminently useful for pro-life activists in their effort to study the myopic thinking of abortion zealots. The morally blind pro-abortion characters may even help pro-life activists dissuade women from the practice of abortion (which harms them, kills unborn babies, and alienates fathers) because nobody would want to be so ignorant in life as the main character.
For example, Ivy’s innocence, the first step in the calculus, would make any reader smile or laugh lightly as when she illustrates her incredible ignorance about how she became pregnant: “I don't even really understand how I'm here [in the state of thinking about being pregnant]” (8; italics in original) or “I didn’t even know you could get pregnant that way” (60). Ivy’s naiveté continues to manifest itself hundreds of pages later when she stupidly asks her aunt, “You're saying people have just been getting abortions forever?” (281).
For all her supposed smarts, being in advanced English courses and all, Ivy is as stupid at novel’s end as she was at the beginning. Poor thing.
The reader reaches the second stage of scornful eye-rolls at her ignorant distortions of life-affirming feminist principles when Ivy’s preachiness about women’s rights, and oppression of women, and choice, and control of women’s bodies, and choice again, and blah blah blah overtakes the narrative.
For example, Ivy’s mother's friend, who is presumably Catholic, discloses that she had an abortion and repeats the word “choice” intrusively in a few lines: “I might want to tell you this, but it’s your choice if you want to hear it. We should have all the choices, every possible choice, when so much hasn't been our choice” (155). The author must have been self-conscious about the overuse of the word “choice” because she has the narrator offer this apologia for its repetition: “She says that word again and again, choice. It’s a billboard, it's a headline, it's in neon lights. It's quiet, firm, dignified, self-respecting, a shout suppressed. And, hey, ignored enough that it can seem like a gift instead of a right” (156; italics in original).
The reader’s possible guffawing reaction, the last step in the calculus, to Ivy’s stupidity occurs throughout the novel, especially when she illustrates how her pro-abortion distortion of feminist thinking blinds her to the logical fallacies and ironies of her own words.
On this point, the examples are legion. Ivy uses the standard dehumanizing language of an abortion zealot in talking about or referring to the unborn child, ranging from calling him or her “‘a bundle of cells’ (according to some sites online) inside me”, the balance of the paragraph comparing the unborn child qua “bundle of cells” to her mother's cancer cells (29); to an odd metaphor for the unborn child as “the grain of rice inside me, and […] the cells multiplying by the minute” (59); to Ivy using the demonstrative pronoun “this” to refer to the unborn child (255, repeated on 307); to the dehumanizing term with the longest grammatical history, “it” (308).
The ironies which the reader sees in Ivy’s stupidity ineluctably lead to guffaws, and these, likewise, are legion. Ivy sees herself as a victim like Hester Prynne (87), completely unaware that, while the comparison does apply in that both Hester and Ivy are targets of adultery in the one case, fornication in the other, Hester gave birth to the child while Ivy will abort him or her.
Similarly, Ivy displays a lack of self-awareness when she asserts the following: “It's sneaky, but when you get out of your own mind for a while and actually see other people and what they might need, too, you can feel, even for a minute, like maybe things will be all right after all” (90; italics in original). That she cannot see what the unborn child might need or feel is either a blind spot on the author’s part or, most likely, more evidence of Ivy’s stupidity.
Ivy again compares her travels to kill the unborn child to a scene in the movie The Land Before Time: “young dinosaurs running from danger, fighting the odds, and struggling to get to the Great Valley—a tale of survival and teamwork and love, pretty much like this road trip” (201). Here again Ivy is utterly oblivious that her abortion road trip does not end in survival of the unborn child and that the team collaborating in the killing does not love him or her—in fact, refuses to recognize him or her as a fellow human being running from danger, fighting the odds, and struggling to get to…birth.
Perhaps the weirdest irony occurs in Ivy’s statement about her “opinions”: “Another opinion I have is that appliances can hear, especially cars” (241). Apparently, the AP English teenager is utterly bereft of basic contemporary fetological knowledge of the unborn child’s bodily functions such as movement in the womb or reactions to auditory and other stimuli. Cars have feelings, but an unborn child burned to death in a saline abortion or dismembered in a D&E abortion feels nothing?
Stoo. Pid.
Even other characters’ statements are ironic disasters if this novel is meant to highlight a pro-abortion perspective. The irony of Ivy's mother saying, “I want to respect your decisions around this, but it's killing me” (119) would not be lost on an educated reader, whether a teen, young adult, or adult reader. Ivy’s mother is blind to the fact that her own grandchild will be killed in Ivy’s abortion.
While it is not necessary to buy the book, I recommend that every teen, young adult, and adult pro-life activist borrow Caletti’s novel from a local library (libraries being the bastion of fiction like this which seem to be pro-abortion but advance the pro-life cause) if only to take a break from the serious matters of life: raising our families, voting pro-life, or donating to pregnancy support centers so that no mother would ever become as ignorant as Ivy, a fictional abortion zealot supreme.
Granted, the novel is a tedious read. Even the author herself (speaking through the narrator, of course) notes that the novel is “long. Very long. Four hundred and two pages long. Thirty-nine chapters” (401; italics in original). Many more interesting things began occurring in the world when I started to plow through this work: the massive election win of President Trump, the beginning of the overthrow of the useless and anti-American Democratic Party, the elimination of racist programs like DEI in the federal government, etc. However, read it I did, if I want to be faithful to my duty as a pro-life English professor.
The plot is a standard, tired abortion story, a pattern used by Hemingway a century ago and Faulkner and Brautigan decades after him. Sixteen-year-old Ivy DeVries becomes pregnant, is helped in her quest to kill the unborn child by a boyfriend, accomplishes the killing, and thinks she’s freed from the “burden” of being pregnant (when, as everyone knows, she is, post-abortion, merely the mother of a dead unborn baby).
Caletti’s contribution to this standard abortion plot, however, has two nuances. Ivy becomes pregnant not by means of regular sex, but because another teen “stuck his penis near enough my vagina for sperm to make their unwanted journey to my egg” (253). That’s about the only raw, if not salacious, sexual element in the novel, Ivy’s first episode of sex with her boyfriend being a typical encounter that perhaps was meant to arouse teens but which adults in a marital covenant would find ridiculous.
The second nuance which Caletti makes to the standard abortion template is much more important: Ivy is a first-class idiot. I mean, the girl be dumb. Stupid, as in stoopid. If her first sexual episode with her boyfriend is laughable, then the stupidity which Ivy manifests throughout the novel would move the reader from chuckling at her ignorance as mere teenaged innocence, to scornful eye-rolls at her ignorant distortions of life-affirming feminist principles, to guffaws at her STOOPIDITY, especially when she illustrates how her pro-abortion distortion of feminist thinking blinds her to the logical fallacies and ironies of her own words.
Thus, this calculus makes the novel not only a joy to read, but also a literary tool which can be eminently useful for pro-life activists in their effort to study the myopic thinking of abortion zealots. The morally blind pro-abortion characters may even help pro-life activists dissuade women from the practice of abortion (which harms them, kills unborn babies, and alienates fathers) because nobody would want to be so ignorant in life as the main character.
For example, Ivy’s innocence, the first step in the calculus, would make any reader smile or laugh lightly as when she illustrates her incredible ignorance about how she became pregnant: “I don't even really understand how I'm here [in the state of thinking about being pregnant]” (8; italics in original) or “I didn’t even know you could get pregnant that way” (60). Ivy’s naiveté continues to manifest itself hundreds of pages later when she stupidly asks her aunt, “You're saying people have just been getting abortions forever?” (281).
For all her supposed smarts, being in advanced English courses and all, Ivy is as stupid at novel’s end as she was at the beginning. Poor thing.
The reader reaches the second stage of scornful eye-rolls at her ignorant distortions of life-affirming feminist principles when Ivy’s preachiness about women’s rights, and oppression of women, and choice, and control of women’s bodies, and choice again, and blah blah blah overtakes the narrative.
For example, Ivy’s mother's friend, who is presumably Catholic, discloses that she had an abortion and repeats the word “choice” intrusively in a few lines: “I might want to tell you this, but it’s your choice if you want to hear it. We should have all the choices, every possible choice, when so much hasn't been our choice” (155). The author must have been self-conscious about the overuse of the word “choice” because she has the narrator offer this apologia for its repetition: “She says that word again and again, choice. It’s a billboard, it's a headline, it's in neon lights. It's quiet, firm, dignified, self-respecting, a shout suppressed. And, hey, ignored enough that it can seem like a gift instead of a right” (156; italics in original).
The reader’s possible guffawing reaction, the last step in the calculus, to Ivy’s stupidity occurs throughout the novel, especially when she illustrates how her pro-abortion distortion of feminist thinking blinds her to the logical fallacies and ironies of her own words.
On this point, the examples are legion. Ivy uses the standard dehumanizing language of an abortion zealot in talking about or referring to the unborn child, ranging from calling him or her “‘a bundle of cells’ (according to some sites online) inside me”, the balance of the paragraph comparing the unborn child qua “bundle of cells” to her mother's cancer cells (29); to an odd metaphor for the unborn child as “the grain of rice inside me, and […] the cells multiplying by the minute” (59); to Ivy using the demonstrative pronoun “this” to refer to the unborn child (255, repeated on 307); to the dehumanizing term with the longest grammatical history, “it” (308).
The ironies which the reader sees in Ivy’s stupidity ineluctably lead to guffaws, and these, likewise, are legion. Ivy sees herself as a victim like Hester Prynne (87), completely unaware that, while the comparison does apply in that both Hester and Ivy are targets of adultery in the one case, fornication in the other, Hester gave birth to the child while Ivy will abort him or her.
Similarly, Ivy displays a lack of self-awareness when she asserts the following: “It's sneaky, but when you get out of your own mind for a while and actually see other people and what they might need, too, you can feel, even for a minute, like maybe things will be all right after all” (90; italics in original). That she cannot see what the unborn child might need or feel is either a blind spot on the author’s part or, most likely, more evidence of Ivy’s stupidity.
Ivy again compares her travels to kill the unborn child to a scene in the movie The Land Before Time: “young dinosaurs running from danger, fighting the odds, and struggling to get to the Great Valley—a tale of survival and teamwork and love, pretty much like this road trip” (201). Here again Ivy is utterly oblivious that her abortion road trip does not end in survival of the unborn child and that the team collaborating in the killing does not love him or her—in fact, refuses to recognize him or her as a fellow human being running from danger, fighting the odds, and struggling to get to…birth.
Perhaps the weirdest irony occurs in Ivy’s statement about her “opinions”: “Another opinion I have is that appliances can hear, especially cars” (241). Apparently, the AP English teenager is utterly bereft of basic contemporary fetological knowledge of the unborn child’s bodily functions such as movement in the womb or reactions to auditory and other stimuli. Cars have feelings, but an unborn child burned to death in a saline abortion or dismembered in a D&E abortion feels nothing?
Stoo. Pid.
Even other characters’ statements are ironic disasters if this novel is meant to highlight a pro-abortion perspective. The irony of Ivy's mother saying, “I want to respect your decisions around this, but it's killing me” (119) would not be lost on an educated reader, whether a teen, young adult, or adult reader. Ivy’s mother is blind to the fact that her own grandchild will be killed in Ivy’s abortion.
While it is not necessary to buy the book, I recommend that every teen, young adult, and adult pro-life activist borrow Caletti’s novel from a local library (libraries being the bastion of fiction like this which seem to be pro-abortion but advance the pro-life cause) if only to take a break from the serious matters of life: raising our families, voting pro-life, or donating to pregnancy support centers so that no mother would ever become as ignorant as Ivy, a fictional abortion zealot supreme.
November 4, 2023
Sixteen-year-old Ivy is shocked when the plus sign appears on the pregnancy test. She meant to spend the summer working to save up money for college and swooning over her boyfriend Lorenzo, but now she’s planning a road trip to her grandmother’s home to legally obtain an abortion. Despite the heaviness of what will happen at the end of the trip, Lorenzo is determined to make their “abortion road trip love story” a beautiful experience for Ivy, creating an enchanting path from Paris, Texas to Rome, Oregon. On their journey, Ivy finds herself a part of a secret community, a community built of women who have been silent about their own experiences.
Small town teen girl gets pregnant and seeks an abortion—on the surface, it doesn’t seem like it’s a new story. But Caletti finds a way to tell a beautifully tender love story that is surrounded by a call to action against those who want to take away the bodily autonomy of individuals with uteruses. It’s a story that pulled me in from the get go and pulled my heart in all different directions.
One of the things I loved most about this story was the women that Ivy meets along the way. Our society has this unspoken rule that we don’t talk about abortion or miscarriage or infertility—there is a certain stigma and shame associated with it. But as we follow Ivy’s journey from Texas to Oregon, we also get stories of other women who have had to make a difficult decision surrounding a pregnancy. Despite this being a work of fiction, Caletti has opened the door with this book to start bigger conversations and allow those who have been shamed into silence to share their stories.
It is beautiful to see the great support system that Ivy has around her (that a lot of teens don't have in her same situation). Her mother, brother, and boyfriend rally around her and immediately support her without an ounce of judgement or blame. They are the perfect example of the kind of people we should all 1) strive to be and 2) surround ourselves with. In a book that centers around an abortion, there are some tender moments that warmed my heart and restored some faith in humanity.
And listen, I know we all love the morally grey villain as a book boyfriend, but sweet Lorenzo absolutely stole my heart and I will fight anyone who says a bad word about him.
In a post-Roe world, this story is incredibly timely and unfortunately too easy to believe will happen. I hate to say it, but I can absolutely see this book being banned or challenged in all the places like Ivy’s hometown, though I will hold out hope that it will find its way to the teens that need it. As someone who has felt that exact shame and hidden from the stigma, I know exactly how isolating it can be and a story like this is just a little thing that can help you feel less alone.
And, of course, can’t leave out the important content warnings: abortion, sexual assault, parent with cancer, slut shaming, and homophobia. Take care of yourself while reading.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for free and have voluntarily written this review.
Small town teen girl gets pregnant and seeks an abortion—on the surface, it doesn’t seem like it’s a new story. But Caletti finds a way to tell a beautifully tender love story that is surrounded by a call to action against those who want to take away the bodily autonomy of individuals with uteruses. It’s a story that pulled me in from the get go and pulled my heart in all different directions.
One of the things I loved most about this story was the women that Ivy meets along the way. Our society has this unspoken rule that we don’t talk about abortion or miscarriage or infertility—there is a certain stigma and shame associated with it. But as we follow Ivy’s journey from Texas to Oregon, we also get stories of other women who have had to make a difficult decision surrounding a pregnancy. Despite this being a work of fiction, Caletti has opened the door with this book to start bigger conversations and allow those who have been shamed into silence to share their stories.
It is beautiful to see the great support system that Ivy has around her (that a lot of teens don't have in her same situation). Her mother, brother, and boyfriend rally around her and immediately support her without an ounce of judgement or blame. They are the perfect example of the kind of people we should all 1) strive to be and 2) surround ourselves with. In a book that centers around an abortion, there are some tender moments that warmed my heart and restored some faith in humanity.
And listen, I know we all love the morally grey villain as a book boyfriend, but sweet Lorenzo absolutely stole my heart and I will fight anyone who says a bad word about him.
In a post-Roe world, this story is incredibly timely and unfortunately too easy to believe will happen. I hate to say it, but I can absolutely see this book being banned or challenged in all the places like Ivy’s hometown, though I will hold out hope that it will find its way to the teens that need it. As someone who has felt that exact shame and hidden from the stigma, I know exactly how isolating it can be and a story like this is just a little thing that can help you feel less alone.
And, of course, can’t leave out the important content warnings: abortion, sexual assault, parent with cancer, slut shaming, and homophobia. Take care of yourself while reading.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for free and have voluntarily written this review.
March 6, 2024
Set in rural Paris, TX, this book will resonate with anyone who was put to shame for having an abortion. Ivy is 15, finds herself pregnant due to a non-consenusual act (I was super surprised by it but it made total sense). Upon discovering she is over the “six week” deadline to obtain a legal abortion in Texas, she has no other choice but to travel to another state, Oregon, where abortions and female reproductive services are legal.
Ivy has a small but hefty support system, as she travels across the US, deemed the “abortion road trip love story”, by her extremely supportive boyfriend Lorenzo, who we come to find out is NOT the father. As they travel across the states, Ivy discovers she is not alone in this trek, hearing stories from other women who have gone through similar events in their lives.
I learned a LOT from this book, not realizing that 1 in 4 women have abortions and that it’s more common, going way back into the early 1900s. That those who are pointing fingers may actually have a skeleton in their closet (come to find out near the end…no spoilers!)
My only negative comment is that I wish Ivy had been able to confront the “father” or at least, while I don’t condone lowering yourself to others, she should have been able to stand up for herself rather than run away..even though that was best for her and her family. Sadly, the way her “best friends” treated her was not uncommon. I understand Ivy’s not wanting to speak her truth, today’s young girls would turn to social media and blast the “dad”. This is definitely one book that will stay with me for a while…
Ivy has a small but hefty support system, as she travels across the US, deemed the “abortion road trip love story”, by her extremely supportive boyfriend Lorenzo, who we come to find out is NOT the father. As they travel across the states, Ivy discovers she is not alone in this trek, hearing stories from other women who have gone through similar events in their lives.
I learned a LOT from this book, not realizing that 1 in 4 women have abortions and that it’s more common, going way back into the early 1900s. That those who are pointing fingers may actually have a skeleton in their closet (come to find out near the end…no spoilers!)
My only negative comment is that I wish Ivy had been able to confront the “father” or at least, while I don’t condone lowering yourself to others, she should have been able to stand up for herself rather than run away..even though that was best for her and her family. Sadly, the way her “best friends” treated her was not uncommon. I understand Ivy’s not wanting to speak her truth, today’s young girls would turn to social media and blast the “dad”. This is definitely one book that will stay with me for a while…
Want to read
July 10, 2024"Ivy [inds out she's pregnant after being the victim of (non-penetrative) sexual assault. This
sets up a series of dif[icult conversations throughout the book, the [irst being telling her
boyfriend that A) she was assaulted and B) she's pregnant. She also tells her mom, and they
begin to plan how to get her to family in Oregon so that she can get an abortion. When the
whole town learns she's pregnant, Ivy's friends abandon her but her boyfriend, Lorenzo, is
unfailingly supportive. Together they plan a road trip to Oregon, and along the way they
meet several people who share personal experiences with abortion (all pro-choice, but
some make the choice to keep the baby). The book is very pro-choice, very sex positive, and
feminist. While the descriptions of consensual sex aren't graphic, the sexual assault is
described in detail. The abortion procedure is descriptive and informative. The writing is
excellent and uses a frame story. The one problem I have with the book is that the
characters feel more like archetypes than actual people: determined girl, supportive parent,
unsupportive parent, religious right employer, supportive boyfriend, judgmental small
town, etc. Still very much worth reading." - WashRag-145-05-24
sets up a series of dif[icult conversations throughout the book, the [irst being telling her
boyfriend that A) she was assaulted and B) she's pregnant. She also tells her mom, and they
begin to plan how to get her to family in Oregon so that she can get an abortion. When the
whole town learns she's pregnant, Ivy's friends abandon her but her boyfriend, Lorenzo, is
unfailingly supportive. Together they plan a road trip to Oregon, and along the way they
meet several people who share personal experiences with abortion (all pro-choice, but
some make the choice to keep the baby). The book is very pro-choice, very sex positive, and
feminist. While the descriptions of consensual sex aren't graphic, the sexual assault is
described in detail. The abortion procedure is descriptive and informative. The writing is
excellent and uses a frame story. The one problem I have with the book is that the
characters feel more like archetypes than actual people: determined girl, supportive parent,
unsupportive parent, religious right employer, supportive boyfriend, judgmental small
town, etc. Still very much worth reading." - WashRag-145-05-24
December 9, 2023
“That cross on my locker—it feels like an anchor pulling me down, down, into a permanent humiliation.”
This book was transformative and heartbreaking as we follow Ivy and her decision to abort her pregnancy. I am a firm believer in Pro-choice and am so ecstatic that there is finally a story out there that talks about the big “taboo” of abortions. Yes it’s a tough subject. Yes it’s a brutally conflicting choice. But NEVER should we condemn a woman for whatever choice she makes. I am happy that this book was written as it brings much awareness to something people tag so much negativity with. Especially for young readers - to help give them the opportunity and encouragement to be further informed about choices like these.
“The idea of this being one understandable experience will absolutely and without a doubt disappear. There, what I’ve done is against the law, and immoral.”
Thank you @tbrbeyondtours for including me in this tour!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CyASbNHA7...
This book was transformative and heartbreaking as we follow Ivy and her decision to abort her pregnancy. I am a firm believer in Pro-choice and am so ecstatic that there is finally a story out there that talks about the big “taboo” of abortions. Yes it’s a tough subject. Yes it’s a brutally conflicting choice. But NEVER should we condemn a woman for whatever choice she makes. I am happy that this book was written as it brings much awareness to something people tag so much negativity with. Especially for young readers - to help give them the opportunity and encouragement to be further informed about choices like these.
“The idea of this being one understandable experience will absolutely and without a doubt disappear. There, what I’ve done is against the law, and immoral.”
Thank you @tbrbeyondtours for including me in this tour!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CyASbNHA7...
November 22, 2024
A beautifully crafted narrative that explores a teenager’s emotional journey after discovering her unexpected pregnancy. The story resonates with contemporary issues surrounding abortion, particularly in states like Texas, where such choices are heavily scrutinized. Caletti’s writing balances the weight of the subject matter with empathy, making it a poignant read that highlights the complexities of women’s reproductive rights. The audiobook, narrated by Jorjeana Marie, enhances the experience with a compelling performance. This important story may face challenges in certain states due to its themes, but it is a necessary addition to young adult literature.
June 1, 2024
Wow. So much to think about/process with this book.
It shines the light on women’s reproductive rights in states with strict abortion laws and bans. Ivy is 16 years old and finds herself pregnant. She’s young, naive, and
scared.
While it sounds like this is a book about abortion, that’s not the whole story. It’s about how women have been seen/treated throughout history, it’s about family, sisterhood, the battle for autonomy.
It’s such a serious story, on every level.
It shines the light on women’s reproductive rights in states with strict abortion laws and bans. Ivy is 16 years old and finds herself pregnant. She’s young, naive, and
scared.
While it sounds like this is a book about abortion, that’s not the whole story. It’s about how women have been seen/treated throughout history, it’s about family, sisterhood, the battle for autonomy.
It’s such a serious story, on every level.
back-burner
January 12, 2024Temporary DNF at 23% because it's due back at the library and I have too many holds to renew it. I was hoping this would hit harder than it has, but it's felt kind of lackluster to me. Maybe I'll come back to finish, maybe not.
TW so far: teenage pregnancy, vomit, side character is a survivor of breast cancer
TW so far: teenage pregnancy, vomit, side character is a survivor of breast cancer
June 23, 2025
This book brings up so many good questions!
"Aren't we supposed to have freedom of religion? It sure doesn't seem like it when their religion is our laws."
"Why do people hate women so much?
Same reason they hate lots of groups of people. They're worried we're powerful."
I'm so glad I picked this book up.
"Aren't we supposed to have freedom of religion? It sure doesn't seem like it when their religion is our laws."
"Why do people hate women so much?
Same reason they hate lots of groups of people. They're worried we're powerful."
I'm so glad I picked this book up.
March 15, 2024
"Socially ostracizing people is one of the oldest punishments there is. Shame is a powerful deterrent. But it relies on you to participate."
Not only is Deb Caletti a beautiful writer, she is willing to confront tough topics head-on and without apology.
Not only is Deb Caletti a beautiful writer, she is willing to confront tough topics head-on and without apology.
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