Book Review : Saving Abby by Steena Holmes

Title: Saving Abby

Author : Steena Holmes

Publisher : lake union publishing

Release date : May 31st, 2016

Rating : 4.5/5

☯ Synopsis (from Goodreads) :

All children’s book illustrator Claire Turner ever wanted was to be a mother. After six years of trying to conceive, she and her husband, Josh, have finally accepted that she will never be pregnant with a child of their own.

Yet once they give up hope, the couple gets the miracle they’ve been waiting for. For the first few months of her pregnancy, Claire and Josh are living on cloud nine. But when she begins to experience debilitating headaches, blurred vision, and even fainting spells, the soon-to-be mother goes to the doctor and receives a terrifying diagnosis. Since any treatment could put their unborn baby’s life at risk, the Turners must carefully weigh their limited options. And as her symptoms worsen, Claire will have to make an impossible decision: Save her own life, or save her child’s?

⚜ Review :

Saving Abby is a soft and heart-gripping story, for when you seek vulnerable strength and ferocious love.

I don’t personally know Holmes, but I’m assuming she has soft hands. Why do I think that? It’s because her writing is sublimely delicate. Think of soft blankets, or calm waters. Comfort wraps its hands around me when I read her book. It’s a very good writing style for such a story about loss, love and struggles. Holmes manages to convey every thought and emotion she strives to re-create in Claire’s story. A strong maturity for a delicate subject, that’s what I faced in this novel… and it fit perfectly. The pacing is good: a bit slow, but always constant.

The chapters alternate between her last travel and the present, between the mourning of her lost dream and her pregnancy. While they were on vacation, Josh and Claire had to say goodbye to her dream of having a child, so they travelled wherever they wanted. The scenery and foreign places were so well described that I felt I was there with them. I’m not talking about actual descriptions. I’m talking about the local experience, you know? Little shops and bookstores and all the little things that give a place its uniqueness, all of those contributed to the feeling that I travelled with them.

Josh’s and Claire’s relationship was adorable. They take care of, worry about and strengthen each other. Their dynamics, as a couple, is dreamy: it’s the kind of marriage anyone would want. Their life is also great together, having successful careers and enough money to enjoy life at their leisure. Everything is good… except for their failed dream of being parents. Sometimes Claire or Abby acted in ways I couldn’t understand, and yes it did get me frustrated, but at the end of the day, you realize that redemption is also part of Holmes’ story.

Saving Abby is an emotional novel, and Holmes created such wonderful characters that we can’t help but feel their joy and their heartache.

Picture sources : 1, 2