This is an emotional read. One of the main themes is infertility which could be a huge trigger for some.
This talks about the strength of woman and the power of friendship.

This was my first time reading a book from the author but I am delighted to say I thoroughly enjoyed the story and I look forward to reading more books from the writer in the future

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.

A quick but explosive read. Gripping from page 1 right up until the ending. One to recommend. 5* from me. My thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for the advance reader copy.

This was my first novel by Charlene Carr and it was a fairly enjoyable read.

Katherine and Tess have both been struggling with infertility for a number of years. Both fall pregnant and whilst Katherine gives birth to a healthy baby girl, Rose, Tess tragically suffers a stillbirth.

A really interesting premise and a well written, thought out story. Unfortunately for me, it just lacked a killer punch, something to make it stand out. I think from the start once the story was laid out, it seemed fairly obvious where the story would go and whilst there were some surprises, it just didn't really stand out for me.

Definitely an author I would look out for again though as the writing was good.

Such a sensitive subject matter, handled beautifully by the author. Hold My Girl sees Katherine and Tess conceiving at an IVF clinic, then discovering afterwards that their eggs were switched. What follows is a custody battle over baby Rose - can a happy ending be possible after all the heartbreak?

A highly emotive book, it also covers subjects such as class and race, and I genuinely didn't know who I felt more sorry for throughout. As each chapter progressed, my mind was constantly changed, and my heart ached more. A recommended read.

This book is described as perfect for fans of z Jodi Picoult, and being a huge fan of Jodi Picoult’s work, I can vouch for this
From the very first chapter I was hooked on this book, ready to be drawn into the legal v moral battle.
It is extremely evident from the book that the author has used her own experiences and this is portrayed amazingly in this book
The book was very centred around the emotional aspect of the story. I would like to have experienced more of the moral and legal part to this story, however that did not spoil my experience with this book
The book is extremely emotive and we hear from tess and Katherine and the way their lives and decisions have led to the situation they are currently in now.
The book was very thought provoking and really did have me questioning some aspects of the world we live in
The author did a great job with this book, such a hard topic to write about and the author did great justice
I would highly recommend

Hold My Girl by Charlene Carr is a heart-warming story of love, loss, and second chances. The novel follows the story of Mia, a young woman who has recently lost her husband and is struggling to move on. In an effort to start fresh, she moves to a new city and starts working at a local bookstore.

It's here that she meets Max, the charming and handsome owner of the coffee shop next door. Despite her reservations, Mia finds herself drawn to Max and the two begin to develop a close friendship. As they spend more time together, Mia starts to wonder if there could be something more between them.

The novel is beautifully written, with vivid descriptions and well-developed characters. Mia is a relatable and sympathetic protagonist, and readers will root for her as she navigates the challenges of starting over. Max, too, is a complex and nuanced character, and his relationship with Mia is the heart of the novel.

Hold My Girl is a poignant and moving novel that will resonate with anyone who has experienced loss or is looking for a fresh start. Charlene Carr's writing is emotional and heartfelt, and the novel is a testament to the power of love and the importance of second chances. I highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a beautiful and uplifting read.

Katherine and Patrick have the perfect life with their daughter, Rose, who was conceived with the help of ivf. When a nurse at the clinic confirms she swapped the eggs suddenly Tess is confirmed as the biological mother and she wants custody.
This was such a hard yet intriguing read. I genuinely felt for all parties and the emotion they went through. Thank you to netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is a really tricky book to review without sounding in any way judgmental. Katherine and Tess are from completely different social standings, not through any fault of their own - it's just how life pans out. Both women have needed IVF support to conceive a child, but their outcomes are poles apart.

To be in the position these families find themselves in when news of the switch becomes known is incomprehensible and I also felt strongly for the dad involved. In one way he is the only winner but to then have to support his wife, knowing that the baby she has carried and nurtured is still his but not hers must be tortuous. Our initial instinct is for the mums involved but what an awful position he also finds himself in.

The author covers the press intrusion and natural curiosity of close friends of the two women very well however I did feel that the whole story just skims the surface of what could potentially been a much deeper delve into everyone's reactions. There isn't much in the way of looking at the person who was responsible for the whole situation happening in the first place, that aspect feels very sketchy, and I feel the story could have gone deeper down that route to make the story more solid and maybe even more emotional if that could be possible.

Without giving spoilers, the conclusion of the book was pleasing, and I feel any alternative would have been very disappointing. I admire the author for tackling such a sensitive issue but personally I think it could have had more potential with a few more tweaks.

3.5 rounded to 4 stars

Well..... talk about thought provoking and heart wrenching! Hold My Girl is the story of two women finding out that their eggs were switched at a fertility clinic prior to insemination and implantation. Katherine has a 10 month old Daughter, Rose, whilst Tess suffered a heartbreaking loss late in pregnancy. The whole way through the book I was debating with myself what I would do if I was in each woman's position and I genuinely never came up with an answer. I hadn't a clue which woman to root for, which woman I thought should have Rose, how it should all work with custody etc. And with other issues thrown in such as race, class, privacy etc it just became so complicated and messy but the author wrote it all so well and with such sensitivity for the difficult topics.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book as much as I expected to and highly recommend it.

This book is highly emotionally and so well written. It is so sad and beautifully wriiten, It accurately describes IVF experiences and I think it is exceptionally well written.

Such an emotive story, with no winners and a whole host of losers. In Hold My Girl, Katherine and Tessa who have both been through rounds of gruelling IVF find out that their eggs have been deliberately swapped and that Rose, the much loved baby that Katherine and her husband have been bringing up, is biologically Tessa's. Tessa didnt have a successful outcome to her IVF journey so is understandably desperate to see if she can be recognised as Rose's mother. The ensuing court case is heartbreaking and harrowing for everyone involved. It wasnt an easy read due to the emotionally charged content, but the story itself was sensitively handled for all parties. When I read that it had been influenced by the author's own IVF journey, I felt even more emotionally connected. Congratulations to Charlene Carr for such a powerful story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. An interesting concept for this story which makes you think about what you would do faced with the same situation. The book also provides an insight into IVF which is something I didn’t know a lot about prior to reading. Well written and covers a number of issues, including race and ethics. I would recommend this book, I feel it would be good for a book club/discussion group.

A thought provoking book that keeps you hooked till the end.
Well developed characters and Intresting storyline. I would recommend.

The babies switched at birth and given to the wrong parents is a familiar trope. However, the author takes this premise but has the eggs switched prior to uterine implantation at a fertility clinic. This was a very interesting take and it forces the reader to consider their own reaction if they were in a similar position.

It also provides for an interesting peek into the world of IVF, and I learnt much about the process in this book. It made for a fascinating read with the chapters moving from the perspectives of Katherine, the birth mother, and Tess, the biological mother. Their viewpoints were emotional and my heart broke for both of them.

It is a heart-rending and thought provoking novel which has been well written and deals with issues concerning ethics, race and moral dilemma. There is much to unpack in this book and it would lend itself very well to book group discussion.

A very hard subject matter that is bound to make you keep trying to decide what you think the outcome should be and then changing your mind. So it’s surprising character driven and I wasn’t keen on any of the three main characters. It felt as though some aspects of the plot could have been extended and some shortened. The legal decisions I thought seemed rushed.

This is the type of novel one keeps thinking long after they are done reading. The plight of two mothers when their maternal rights are at stake due to an IVF mixup. A very sensitive topic that was handled beautifully and with great care.

A challenging, thought-provoking story about two women joined in their battle with infertility and forever bound by an (un)fortunate mistake.

I enjoyed the author's take on nature vs nurture and what is ultimately more important when raising children. However, I felt the whole story was quite predictable from start to finish, I do believe this is still an important read. I had qualms with the characters, not finding any of them particularly likeable, which did make the story less enjoyable but allowed objectivity when I was reading, I couldn't pick a side but I didn't necessarily care for the outcome making it a slower read than I expected. I wish the racism topic was explored a bit further but understand that it may have taken away from the main plot.

Overall, I thought the story was well-written and easy to follow, it isn't very memorable hence my rating.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What an unimaginable situation to be in. The eggs used in an IVF procedure were deliberately switched. This story explores the dilemma faced by the egg mother and the birth mother. Both are desperate to have a child. It's just a sad situation they found themselves in, through no fault of their own. An emotional read that tugs on your heartstrings