A very interesting story based on the horrifying events surrounding eugenics in the USA and the Buck v Bell case. However I was so distracted by the parallel story of Jessa (a lawyer who discovers that forced sterilisation is continuing in ICE detention centres) that it took my attention away from Carrie Buck's story.

The two stories run alongside each other. Carrie's story is historical fact whereby she was deemed to be feeble-minded and, after being raped and her child removed, she is shipped off to an institution where she spends many years. During this time a forced sterilisation is performed following a court case which was a test case to allow other forced sterilisations of ethnic and "feeble-minded" women. This eugenics programme was adopted by the Nazis. It's a horrifying piece of history, which to my disgust continues to this day.

The other part of the story involves the fictional great granddaughter of Mr Bell. Jessa is fighting for the women in the ICE detention centre against the wishes of her husband.

I found almost all the characters in this part irritating. Jessa concealed things from her controlling husband then moaned about him not being supportive. At one point he storms out on her and a day later she's eyeing up a replacement. I found her character whiny, judgemental and overly emotional.

None of this was helped by the narrator of Jessa's part - Carolyn Jania - who has a tendency to over dramatise - much hitching of the breath and sounding panicked for no reason. I'm afraid it sets my teeth on edge and I confess to setting the speed on high just to get through it.

Generally a very interesting slice of past and more recent American history.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the audio advance review copy.

I just finished listening to Counting Backwards by Jacqueline Friedland. It was such a unique book. I really enjoyed it.

This book deals with women’s physical rights. Presently our government is dealing with women’s rights and this book deals with other sexual rights being violated.. The main character,, a female lawyer, is pursuing the sexual exploitation of immigrants who are incarcerated. Her own family relationship and history is addressed also. A well written fiction novel that is relevant currently as well as in the past.

Jacqueline Friedland's fifth novel, COUNTING BACKWARDS, is a powerful, timely, and riveting must-read. Inspired by actual events, the author delves into America's dark history of eugenics in this gripping dual-timeline novel, a narrative that resonates with the ongoing struggle for women's rights.

Featuring two remarkably courageous women, COUNTING BACKWARDS delves into the essential and complex topics of eugenics, reproductive injustice, immigration law, fertility, sterilization, abortion, adoption, women's rights, and motherhood. Their bravery in the face of adversity is truly inspiring.

About...

New York, 2022:
Jessa Gidney, age 31, is a lawyer and has been passed over to be a partner at her Manhattan law firm. She wants to become a mother but has not had any luck. Dissatisfied with her career, she decides to take on pro bono work, and her first case is an incarcerated woman, Isobel, who is fighting against a deportation order.

Jessa soon discovers things about Isobel's health that lead her to a terrifying pattern of medical malpractice within the women's detention facility. Her corporate law firm is not supportive, and her husband Vance wants her to take time off from everything, but her mother is a huge supporter.

She is undecided about diving in with the stress; however, when she discovers a shocking family secret (her own), she knows she must fight for these women.

Virginia, 1927.
Carrie Buck, age 17, Virginia, has not had an easy life. She has dreams and wants to continue school and get an education. However, she is living with a foster family that made her quit school and work for them (unpaid).

She wants a family one day. The foster family's nephew takes advantage of her, and she becomes pregnant. The foster family is unsupportive, and now she is alone and pregnant with no future in sight.

As a ward of the State, she is designated as "feebleminded" and left to the mercy of a corrupt and heartless legal system. Her courageous fight for her destiny leads to a landmark Supreme Court case.

How will the women and their respective cases connect? Will they find the courage to fight for what they deserve against all odds? These questions form the intriguing thread that connects the two timelines in this riveting novel.

"Progress is rarely a straight line and always hard-won."

My thoughts...

COUNTING BACKWARDS is a hauntingly beautiful tale of loss, love, compassion, and hope that resonates with the emotional journey of women's rights. These memorable characters will tug at your heartstrings and remain with you long after the book ends. I loved these women!

As a former whistleblower (first case reaching federal level SOX Sarbanes-Oxley 2022), I love Erin Brockovich-type stories. I am passionate about fighting for the underdog and accountability, especially regarding justice for women and helping those with no voice. I found this novel to be a compelling read and a stark reminder that we still have a long way to go in protecting human rights, particularly women's reproductive rights.

With alternating POVs (two remarkable women) and a compelling dual-timeline, COUNTING BACKWARDS delivers a timely, emotional, and powerful message about the historical and present-day use of women's bodies against them. Inspired by real-life events, this essential read sheds light on a topic that still rings true today.

Thought-provoking, part coming of age, family drama, literary, historical, legal, and women's fiction, the brilliantly written novel exposes shocking revelations of the betrayal of women by governmental institutions and their fight for rights. It balances it with courage and hope with a satisfying conclusion.

It is a powerful, heart-wrenching story of fierce strength, forgotten history, legacy, and empowerment. This well-written novel is an ideal choice for book clubs and further discussions. I appreciated the author's note and additional reading resources. My first book by the author, and I cannot wait to read more.

Pomegranates...

I enjoyed the symbolism of Pomegranates with the beautiful cover and more. Pomegranates have diverse cultural-religious significance as a symbol of life and fertility owing to their many seeds,

It is not difficult to see why the pomegranate has traditionally been considered a powerful visual metaphor for fertility. The pomegranate is known for the beauty of its shrub, flowers, and fruit—symbolizing sanctity, fertility, and abundance.

Audiobook...

I enjoyed reading the book and listening to the audiobook performed by the talented Amanda Stribling and Carolyn Jania. It further elevates this emotional story and makes the characters come alive with distinct and engaging voices for a must-listen audio experience!

Recs...

COUNTING BACKWARDS is for fans of the author and those interested in women's rights. Also, for fans of Meagan Church's The Last Carolina Girl and The Girls We Sent Away, Dolen Perkins Valdez's Take My Hand, and Diane Chamberlain's Necessary Lies. (all favorites).

Thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for a gifted, advanced review and listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: March 11, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Mar 2025 Must-Read Books
March Newsletter

Connected dual timelines explore the role reproduction (and the rights related to it) plays in women's lives. Timely and relevant without becoming overly political. Based on historical events.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Counting Backwards is an engaging story about how a woman finds new purpose helping stop the nonconsensual sterilization of immigrants while also finding out what she wants in work and life and diving into her family history. Other than a side romantic plot that's distracting and some mixed descriptions about her track record at her firm, this is an extremely compelling and timely novel as our immigration policy begins to sound more and more like the situation that caused the eugenics movement to rise to power in the early 1900's USA and go to it's extreme in WWII. Friedland is a compelling writer, with great dialogue showing the complexity of people navigating desperate situations as best they can, and the power of the system to prevent people from doing what's right with the threat of massive consequences.

Counting Backwards by Jacqueline Friedland is an emotionally gripping book. I was invested in Jessa's story, but not as much as I was with Carrie's. Towards the mid-end of the book, I started to not like it. Jessa's gran was out of touch, I still didn't have a single reason to like Vance, and Jessa was too woe is me, making her about face a couple chapters later too abrupt. This is why I deducted a star.

I was shocked and heartbroken by the author's note at the end of the book.

Amanda Stribling as Carrie and Carolyn Jania as Jessa were both good narrators.

Thank you to Harper Muse Audiobooks for providing me with an ALC.

This is a great read for Women’s History Month. There are two timelines: 1920s Virginia and 2022 New York. This is fiction, but both timelines have elements of factual events which is quite unsettling.

The subject is forced sterilization in BOTH timelines.

Each timeline has its own point of view and let me tell you these women will leave a lasting impression.

The 1920s timeline has Carrie Buck who is in a prison of sorts for the mentally inferior.

The 2022 timeline has Jessa Gidney, a lawyer who is representing a woman being detained in an ICE facility.

Jessa finds more than she bargained for during her routine meeting. She also learns that she has family connection to what happened to Carrie Buck.

This book has both legal issues and family drama in the timelines. It would make an excellent book club read.

Inspired by the real-life case of Buck vs. Bell, this historical fiction novel explores eugenics and its devastating effects on reproductive rights. The story is heartbreaking, rage-inducing, and empowering. Did I cry? Yes, but I also felt proud of our (women’s) resilience!

The dual timeline structure is brilliantly executed. The historical timeline—focusing on Carrie Buck and the infamous Buck vs. Bell case—provides essential context for understanding the roots of eugenics in America. Meanwhile, the contemporary storyline offers disturbing yet timely insights into the harsh realities of ICE detention centers and the challenges faced by immigrants in today's system. I enjoyed both timelines equally, as each added depth to the book, making it a page-turner!

Counting Backwards is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the intersection of history, reproductive rights, and social justice. As the book blurb states, “Counting Backwards is a compelling reminder that progress is rarely a straight line and always hard-won.” It’s a deeply moving read that will stay with me for a long time, and it is my favorite book for March!

Other highlights: motherhood, infertility, powerful and emotional character arcs, and well-researched narrative

Thank you, Netgalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for this ALC!
Wow, wow, wow. I don't even know if I have the words, vernacular, etc. to convey how I felt about this story. There is something truly captivating, saddening and maddening about the plot of the story... May it be that I'm a woman, or that I'm empathetic and angry for what women have gone through? I'm not sure but Ms. Jacqueline Friedland really hit the nail on the head in regards to the palpable feeling of being a woman - it is truly unfortunate that the same base narrative regarding autonomy is still prevalent today.

VIBE: Erin Brockovich but for eugenics, immigration and a woman's fight for autonomy in dual/paralleled timelines over 100 years; and attacks on marginalized communities. Very fitting for our current timeline.

"Years later, when I learned the word 'obliterated', I thought back to that moment with Clarence. That's what he had done to me then, I had felt obliterated... I wish I had fought harder, but I can't go back."

Setting: Parallel timelines over nearly a century; Jessa in current times New York and Carrie in 1927 Virginia. While Jessa is struggling to get pregnant and investigating and fighting a coerced sterilization case in an immigrant detention facility; Carrie is forcefully sterilized against her will after being designated as "feebleminded" and left in a home. (If you're unaware, this was a legitimate law passed and is still 'there' to this day.) The two timelines explore how both of these women navigate their turmoil, and how their stories ultimately intertwine.

"But I knew, too well, that life was a finite gift, I didn't have patience for people who don't try to make the most out of the time they are given."

The gist?
Here we were in 2022, and women were being sterilized against their will.
IMMIGRANTS! BEING STERILIZED! AGAINST THEIR WILL! IN CONCENTRATION CAMPS!??
Does this sound familiar?
I mean... flowers are due to Jacqueline Friedland for this one. Like I stated before, not only is this on par for current events, but the amount of research and empathy to the story done at the end of the day is shown throughout this whole story. The creation of fictional storyline or Carrie Buck, alone, is a feat in itself. It may not be true to Carrie's real life story--but many of us readers may find resonation in her story. Every emotion is palpable throughout the course, and you'll find yourself both angry and sad for her.

"I try not to let my mind wander away with all the what-ifs. Even so, one thought keeps creeping back up on me. If only I'd been born some years later, surely what happened to me would never happen to a young woman today."

Speaking of Jessa's story--the growth, lessons, and realizations this character goes through to become who she needs to be at the end of this story? It is beautiful. It takes a bit to get there, but every single part of this story is worth it, my god. I hate to say 'everything is a lesson...' but sometimes, there is a lesson in everything. Jessa grows through every. single. aspect. of her storyline, and leaves with a new perspective on herself, her job and her relationship thanks, in part, to Carrie Buck and the women she helps as a result.

"And you, my dear, need to work on remembering that loss is a part of life. And we can't live our entire existences focused so intently on everything that has been stolen from us. Sometimes, you need to concentrate less on what has been taken, and more on what you have to give instead."

I'm sure my words don't even do the story justice, to be quite honest. All I can say is read it, listen to it... Whatever you can do to experience this story. You won't regret it.

In this timely book, Jacqueline Friedland interweaves the stories of a contemporary lawyer, who in her private life is desperate to have a baby while professionally becoming engaged in a fight to protect undocumented immigrants who, while being held in detention, had been sterilized against their will, with that of a poor indentured child who, while still in her teens, also is sterilized against her will. The stories progress in fits and start and not all characters are well developed. At the end, one of the immigrants writes that she hopes that by the time her daughter reaches her age things will have changed. Regrettably, she will be disappointed. Jacqueline Friedland's Counting Backwards will appeal to readers looking for books that tackle current women's issues.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the ARC!

This was a devastatingly timely book about ICE and how easily people who've spent their whole lives in the U.S. are being ripped away from their families and deported to countries that they don't even know. It's also about eugenics, and the atrocities of thinking that one group of people has the right to decide for another whether their bloodline deserves to continue. This happened much longer than you'd think.

While this is a work of fiction, it is based on facts. It might be difficult to read about the things we've done as a country, but I believe Americans need to take a hard look in the mirror and remember we haven't always been the hero of the story.

I'm giving 3.5 stars, mainly because I didn't love the narrator for Jessa, and I felt like the storyline between her and Vance and her and Gram were both a bit unrealistic.

Counting Backwards hooked me from the beginning and I had no idea what the book was about. It’s excellent writing, relevant, historically based storyline and likable characters keep you engaged and processing what is happening around us that we may be unaware of. Loved this book. Thank you Harper Muse Audiobooks and NetGalley for the Audio ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

All I can say is just wow! 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 is one of those books that sinks its nails into your heart and just does not let go. From the very beginning, I could not help but find myself very attached to the main two characters and their at times heartbreaking journeys.

I was drawn into how the story has woven together the eugenics of the past and how it has continued until this day in the United States. But the story itself is so much more than that, since it takes on the truth behind the injustice surrounding women’s reproductive rights along with the strength and resiliency that women have had throughout history.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:

Dual POV
Reproductive Rights
Infertility
Immigration
Women’s Rights
A story that is so relevant in today’s world

I highly recommend this poignant story and it’s definitely going to be a favorite for this year!

Thank you Harper Muse for this gifted copy in exchange from my honest opinions.

Jessa was passed over for a promotion so she decided to take on a pro bono immigration case. While interviewing Isobel, she finds out that Isobel was given a hysterectomy without her consent. She discovers that this happens a lot in the facility. Nearly a century earlier Carrie Buck is in her foster home when she becomes pregnant, she is kicked out and sent to a State facility where doctors want to sterilize her in order to keep her from ever reproducing

This was a hard story to read, even more so once you get to the author’s note at the end and realize Carrie’s story was based on a true story. While Isobel was fictional, the author points out cases that were similar and not to long ago. I don’t think this book will be for everyone but I think it is an important book to read if you are able to read about heavy topics that are relevant to today.

4.5 stars*

This story may be triggering to women who have miscarried or cannot have children, but the commentary about how the USA continues to sterilize women of color against their will is necessary and timely. The book is well researched and I like Jess’ character development.
The plot twist in her family history was dramatic but in line with the story. I can tell the story was built around this twist rather than it being a simple afterthought.
Her relationship with her husband and their conflict was also realistic, though I did not like Vance, her husband, he was very believable. Just, very much a hypocrite at times. I was more invested in the story of the women in the prison than their relationship issues.

A “follow your heart” story that leads someone to help other women. We love to see it.

A compelling, powerful and emotionally-charged story that will leave you wanting more!

Why am I not seeing this book everywhere? Especially given how relevant it is to current times as we fight for women's reproductive rights.

Jessa is an attorney taking on a pro-bono client at an immigration detention center. She soon uncovers unlawful and barbaric medical practices against detainees at the facility. She is determined to seek justice for all the women who were mistreated and forced into sterilization without their consent. In an alternating timeline in the 1920's, Carrie Buck is a young girl forced into foster care. Subsequent horrifying events lead her to the forefront of a Eugenics case. Based on true events, COUNTING BACKWARDS tells the story of two women whose lives intersect almost a century apart, and the injustices that continue to place women's reproductive rights at risk.

This is one of those stories that will stay with you long after you've finished reading. With heavy topics such as infertility, eugenics, forced sterilization and deportation/immigration mistreatment, it's a heartbreaking yet eye-opening. The narrative weaves part fiction and part historical Supreme Court case into one cohesive and compelling plot. The audiobook dual narration is excellent; I finished in one day. I would've loved more from the viewpoint of the detainees and Carrie's life in the colony and after the ruling. I'll be recommending this book to anyone who will listen!

For fans of TAKE MY HAND, ONLY THE BEAUTIFUL and ERIN BROCKOVICH.

Trigger Warning: Miscarriage, Fertility issues, Women’s rights, immigration, deportation, forced sterilization, motherhood, eugenics

Counting backwards is written in dual POV and dual timeline. Present day timeline focuses on Jessa who is lawyer with relationship issues among issues with fertility after her miscarriage, she focuses a lot on trying to conceive and really becomes obsessive over trying to conceive. The other timeline focuses on Carrie Buck and the true events that happened to her.

I found this to be very well paced and really grabs your attention. Jessa as a lawyer took on an immigration case pro bono, where she stumbled upon a horrific pattern of medical malpractice inside the walls of a ICE detention center. Jessa’s investigation to the horrible things being done in this facility leads her to learning more about her family history involved with Carrie Buck.

I could not stop listening to this book. It was really horrifying what was happening to these women. It is a brilliant portrayal of the eugenics movement in the United States and how it really still remains relevant today.

This was released March 11, 2025

Thank you Harper Muse Audiobooks and Netgalley for the advance listening copy. This is my voluntary reviewed of this book and all words are my own.

COUNTING BACKWARDS is the first book that I’ve read by Jacqueline Friedland, and my gosh, was I ever impressed. I need to seek out her backlist ASAP. It was so well-written and researched, timely, eye-opening, and powerful. The blending of historical and current events was absolutely masterful. It’s based on the Buck v. Bell eugenics case from 1927 and a similar situation at a women’s detention center in Georgia from 2020. This novel broke my heart and made me want to scream in rage. It’s SO relevant to what is going on in the US today, so it quickly made my blood boil. I am so sick and tired of rich white men thinking that they can control women and their bodies. Grrrr! This particular quote from the novel really hit home:

“𝙒𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨. 𝘼𝙬𝙛𝙪𝙡, 𝙖𝙬𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙨.”

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Politically-charged novels
- Women’s/reproductive rights
- Feminist undertones
- Immigration cases
- Legal dramas
- Historical fiction
- Dual POVs
- Alternating timelines
- Strong female characters
- Family drama and secrets
- Marriage issues

Two other books that I’ve read about the eugenics movement are TAKE MY HAND by Dolen Perkins-Valdez and NECESSARY LIES by Diane Chamberlain. I highly recommend both of them as well.

5/5 stars for COUNTING BACKWARDS! It’s out now!

Thanks to Uplit Reads, NetGalley, and Harper Muse for access to digital ebook and audio versions of Counting Backwards. This book was a fantastic surprise. I truly enjoyed it, and I had trouble setting it down. I started reading it while doing a mini-brewery crawl in Providence, RI, last weekend. I switched and finished via audiobook while cooking dinner after I got home, and the narration was very well done. I wholeheartedly recommend both versions, as this is a top read so far in 2025! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This cover is stunning! Considering a lush pomegranate like this represents fertility, it’s extremely apropos for this book.
I didn’t anticipate my reaction to finishing Counting Backwards - I sat and cried for a solid 5 minutes thinking about what I had just read. The facts on which this novel was based truly upset me, as they had when the author learned them as a teenager. And that something similar could still be happening in the 21st century is just horrifying! I’m being purposefully vague, because I really want you to read this book. And if you have read it, let me know if you had a similar reaction!