what a powerful story with intense themes that was written very well! i couldn't put this one down, the emotional journey I went on was well worth it. i highly recommend this one.

This book is full of sorrow and betrayal. Betrayal of your own body, to not give you what, as a woman, you should innately be entitled to. Betrayal of a family who should be unconditionally supportive, and the nurse who decided to 'play God'. Betrayal of a society that can be deaf to the heartache some women go through in order to fulfill a primal yearning. The hurt that results from all of this is aching. The ethical questions unleashed in trying to derive the answer to this dilemma are wide and deep. Just what makes you a mother?

This novel surprised me in so many ways! To me it's always a sign of a great book when it raises thought-provoking questions, makes me contemplate, and generates interesting discussion - each of which is done exceptionally well here. The one complain I did have is how it seemed to want to cover a little too much. There was one 'twist' I didn't think was necessary at all and actually left me rolling my eyes.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

I chose this book because of the fascinating premise - two IVF mothers find out their eggs have been switched. Fertility, pregnancy and motherhood are large parts of my life and that of people in my social circle. Despite an occurrence like this being outlandish, I could relate to many of the stories shared here. While I enjoyed the plot and the possibilities it explored, the writing and exposition took me out of the story quite a bit. I found myself skimming through text that I thought could have been cut down, especially as things were retold from one point of view to another. Aside from the switch, some of the character's actions were not believable to me. Ultimately, it was just ok for me.

After years of trying to conceive, Katherine gives birth to Rose via IVF. But, Rose's pale skin doesn't match her own complexion and doubt begins to grow. Tess underwent IVF at the same clinic, but her daughter was born stillborn. The women receive a call from the fertility clinic. Their eggs were switched. Who deserves to be Rose's mother?

Wow! What a powerful read. Every emotion is thrown at the reader: disbelief, outrage, disgust, sympathy, and understanding.
I’ve long been fascinated with. Oder reproductive practices ever since the Baby M made for TV movie back in the 1980s.
This book is a messy, complicated snarl of science, relationships, ethnicity, and boundaries.
My jaw dropped in several places by the many turns the story took and other spots were predictable.
Katherine had my greatest sympathy and despite all of her angst, she had conducted herself with the most composure.
I thought Tess was her own worst enemy and quite unstable.
I was outraged that the main culprit got off Scott free.
It’s a contemporary modern story.

"Hold My Girl” is a captivating domestic drama that tackles an impossible situation involving two women, two eggs, & a life-changing switch. The author skillfully weaves a narrative that delves into challenging yet plausible scenarios, including alcoholism, infidelity, & rape, making this book a compelling & hard-to-put-down read.

Charlene Carr demonstrates a mastery of character portrayal & handles intense subject matter with finesse. The story is well-written, flowing beautifully from start to finish. For fans of domestic drama, this book is a must-read; you won't be disappointed.

I extend my gratitude to #NetGalley, Charlene Carr, and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing the ARC. My review is entirely voluntary, & I must say it was a pleasure to delve into this thought-provoking narrative. I eagerly anticipate more works from this talented author in the future.

4.5/5 stars

Devastating contemporary fiction. After years of trying, Katherine and her husband finally conceive with the help of IVF. As their daughter's first birthday nears, their lives seem perfect. Then Katherine gets a call from her fertility clinic and discovers the unimaginable... Rose isn't her biological daughter. Tess' life is much less rosy. She made the tough decision to proceed with IVF, despite her husband leaving her. Shortly after, she suffers the loss of her baby, and of any future chance to have another. Heartbreaking. Then a ray of sunshine: she gets the call that her eggs were switched with Katherine's. She has a daughter, and obviously she wants to be a part of Rose's life. Just as obviously, Katherine doesn't want to give up her daughter, the one she gave birth to. There's no easy answer to this situation. Both Katherine and Tess have rights, and it comes down to a custody battle to determine their futures. And in this case, all secrets will be revealed.

I was utterly engrossed by this heartbreaking and, honestly, nightmarish story. I completely connected with both mothers' points of view; there is no right and wrong here. I cannot imagine how it would feel to finally succeed after years of trying to conceive, only to discover that someone else has a claim to your child. Or how it would feel to lose your child, and then to discover that you actually have one, out in the world, being raised by someone else. Such an emotional read. I would definitely recommend. Just read with caution if you feel that the subject matter might be harmful to your own wellbeing. My heart goes out to any woman who has experienced similar struggles.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved Hold My Girl and think it would make a great bookclub read. There are so many rich themes here—questions about family, identity, etc. The novel follows two mothers who have undergone IVF and discover the ultimate nightmare—their eggs have been switched. The rest of the book follows Tess & Katherine as they try to unravel questions about who the baby really belongs to, and about their own identity as women and mothers. It was well-written, emotional, and a real page turner. I will definitely read the author’s next book!

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

Two women, practically polar opposite but with the same dreams of motherhood, find themselves in an excruciating situation when they learn their eggs were switched at their fertility clinic. Katherine is a happily married Black woman whom prides herself on her perfectionism and Tess is single after a heartbreaking end to her marriage, estranged from her family, and prone to making destructive decisions. Both adore Rose, the one child they share between them due to the fertility clinic’s egregious mistake and a devastating miscarriage. Carr is a good writer and does a wonderful job delving into the complicated emotions that come along with infertility and motherhood, and she offers an interesting story. Problem is, I just wasn’t engaged. There was nothing compelling me to come back to the book over and over to finish it. The characters were distinct and the plot believable, just didn’t care all that much. It’s wasn’t a waste of a read, it just wasn’t one that will stick with me. My thanks to @netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

#bibiliophile#stephsalwaysreading#tbrlist#netgalley#bookstagram#bookstagrammer#whatshouldireadbexf

This story will break your heart and have you wiping away the tears. It's tense and ever so emotional. Imagine bringing up a child thinking it's yours and then to be told it is not years later. The plot is one that is unfortunately possible. It's beautifully written and one of my favourite ever books.

Whew. This book!! Five traumatic stars. This was insane, horrifying and painful to read. I simultaneously could not put it down and also needed to take a break because I could not handle what was happening. It is fast paced and reads like a thriller, my heart was pounding the entire time. The whole situation goes from awful to unfathomable to just completely nightmarish. I am grateful for some conclusion by the end but I don’t even know how any of the characters go on from here. Wowowowow I won’t stop thinking about this book for a while. MAJOR TW for infertility.

Thanks for Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my very own.

Thank you @netgalley and @sourcebooks for the ARC of "Hold My Girl" by Charlene Carr.  The novel is the story about embryo's switched at implantation which while makes for an intriguing story seems quite implausible that it would later be found out.  At any rate, it was an enjoyable story and took the reader through the emotional twists and turns of learning their new reality and how they will proceed forth.  There was exploration of many aspects of what makes a mom a mother and also reveals biases related to POC and wealth/lack of wealth. I really enjoyed the humanity that Carr added to the characters by allowing them to emotionally feel for the other one and not remain totally wrapped up in their own anguish.  Overall an enjoyable but emotional read.

I loved this book! Katherine and Tess were fully fleshed characters and it really informed their actions and reactions. You could clearly understand both of their perspectives and why they would fight for custudy of their daughter. This is a fascinating look at IVF and the struggles many women face in order to conceive. I also loved the novel's in-depth look at generational trauma, mental health, alcoholism, infidelity, and racism, which were all well done and deftly woven into the story. This is a complex story expertly told with an unpredictable but satisfying ending.

I really enjoyed this book. My only complaint was that it was a little longer than I would have liked.
I enjoyed the character development. I found myself rooting for Tess. I wanted her to succeed. Her situation was so heartbreaking.
I thought Katherine’s side of the story was just as heartbreaking, and even though I felt both women made bad choices, you could really understand why they made the choices they did.
This is one I would recommend.

After seven difficult years of trying to conceive, Katherine gives birth to Rose, her IVF miracle child. But it's more than noticeable that Rose's skin is white, her hair is straight and almost blond. It doesn't match Katherine's light-skinned complexion as a Black woman. Bluish-green eyed Tess also underwent IVF at the same clinic but her daughter was stillborn. Now nearly one year later, Tess is consumed by grief, divorced and broke. Just before Rose's first birthday, the fertility clinic calls both women with life-changing news: their eggs were switched.

Motherhood has been Katherine's and Tess's dream. Now neither woman wants to share that claim over Rose. Hence a tense custody battle with racial identity overtones. So very quickly the story turns emotional and left me questioning the definition of motherhood and what makes a mother? Who is to blame and who is deserving? How much is too much to share?

I have marinated on this review for months. No exaggeration—I read it back in the summer. I stalked it until it was available for United States book reviewers. The publisher's summary was that intriguing! So when it finally arrived on my Kindle, I was beyond excited to read and review it. I cleared plans and read half of the book in one day. I forced myself to put it down and took my time reading over the next two days. And here I sit, nearly five months later, still thinking of the deeply moving story, the emotional themes, the moral lesson and its memorable characters.

Charlene Carr is officially on my watch list. I will read whatever she releases next and have signed up for author updates. Hold My Girl is so well written that I recommend it to every Bookheart that enjoys grown chick lit. You will view love differently and see why Hold My Girl is the best book I've read in 2023. And to the decision-makers and screenwriters, please adapt this book into a movie!

Two women. Two eggs. One life-changing switch. Hold My Girl is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

This novel centers on the heartbreaking contemporary issue of infertility and IVF treatment---and the possibility of a mistake. I found this to do a great job of explaining the stress on marriage and relationships that these issues evoke. This is a tough read that allows you to stand in each characters shoes, but they all are going to give you blisters. Very well written, but may be a tough subject for some. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing a digital ARC for review.

Thank you to the author Charlene Carr, publishers Sourcebooks Landmark, and as always, NetGalley, for an advance digital copy of HOLD MY GIRL. All views are mine.

I tried to read HOLD MY GIRL twice, and neither time was I able to connect to the style, the story, of the characters. I've read quite a few reviews on this book, and it certainly seems like a book I would enjoy. Other readers have for reasons I usually value. Based on this, I think this is just bad luck. What I call "a me thing." I would still recommend this book as it wrestles with some important and perhaps neglected themes in literature, such as infertility and fertility treatment. Thank you to the author and publisher for including trigger warnings in the front matter. Such an important thing.

Rating: 🫄🫄🫄 babies comin'
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Oct 7 23
Format: Digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
💻 contemporary fiction
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 family stories, family drama
👶🏻 having babies (or not)
💇‍♀️ women's coming of age
💉 hormones and infertility

My emotions are haywire after finishing this book, there's something so beautifully heartbreaking about it, it makes you question all your decisions and everything you thought to be true.

We get the point of view of both women, and in both of them we see how much trouble and pain a mother would go into to keep her child, but also slowly you notice imperfections on both sides, especially Tess' and the imperfection with Katherine was that she was too perfect, never letting herself take a moment of breath, so slowly but surely there are doubts in your mind about who will get custody or how much custody they will get, you're not sure but the doubts are there.

The twists, both big and small, blow your mind and make you question everything you learned about that character, but you can't stop yourself from giving them another chance.

This is an emotional book, with a very heavy topic, it's made me question a lot of things and has given me fears that I know I shouldn't be worried about from now on, especially since I don't want children, but the fears and worries are still there. I hope that all the women out there going through something like this have a good support system with them, and I hope that they get their chance at being a mother.

This book packs a real emotional punch. If you have ever struggled with growing your own family in any way, tread cautiously with this one! Two women with very different backgrounds find themselves entangled in a custody battle after an IVF nightmare. Tess’s character is great - multilayered with an intricately woven arc. Katherine on the other hand is cookie-cutter, Pinterest-perfect and her character could use with more nuance. All in all, this was a really interesting story and the conflict kept me engaged through the end.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!