Having lost children through miscarriage (early and late in the pregnancy), Lucy Knisley's story hits too close to home. While she writes about a very serious and heartbreaking time in her life, she is able to do so with a very clear lens and even some humor. What makes her books so appealing is that she brings in the world around us to make her story a part of the bigger picture. The facts about fertility, pregnancy, women's issues aren't just sidebars, They're there to make us aware that she's not the only one, it's not just about her, it's about all of us.

Lucy Knisley is one of my favourite graphic novelists out there. I have read and re-read all of her other books, so when I was given an ARC from Netgalley of her soon-to-be released book, Kid Gloves, I was extremely excited.  This instalment of Knisley's autobiographical series follows Lucy as she embarks on a challenging journey into parenthood, rife with miscarriages, health problems and a near-death experience. It is a fascinating and heart-rending read.

A Perfect Blend of Narrative & Science

What I love about Knisley's books is that woven throughout her personal stories are facts and histories relating to the topic that she is covering. In Kid Gloves, she examines not only her own struggles as a young woman trying to conceive and carry a child to term, but she also delves into the complex history and science of reproduction. I think that this connection between autobiographical stories and the wider history acts to draw the reader in. Even though Knisley's narrative is personal, it begins to feel personal to the reader in this way too.

A Light Touch

There are moments in this narrative that will smash your heart, but there are also some hilarious episodes too. I liked reading the lighter anecdotes such as the one about crazy morning sickness (i.e. learning that Charlotte Bronte died from morning sickness! What?!?) This kept the tone of the narrative light, which balanced out the heartbreaking stories about her early miscarriages and the many other hardships that she faced. Reading Lucy Knisley's books feels like talking to a good friend that you haven't seen in a while and I think it is because  her writing is accessible. This is especially important if you consider that the message of her book--that health care for women isn't necessarily in line with their needs--is an important one.

Read this Book! Read it! Why? Because it will change the way you view pregnancy and childbirth along with a million other fascinating ideas. Read it because her story will make you cry. Read it to fall in love with her art (it is beautiful). Read it to feel like you've just discovered your book best friend, because seriously, if you haven't yet discovered Knisley, it's time. Okay, good talk. Now go pickup a copy of Kid Gloves on February 26, 2019.

Lucy Knisley brings us a memoir of her very trying but ultimately triumphant quest to get pregnant. This book discusses all of the trials and tribulations involved with producing a tiny human and Knisley does not hold back on details, honestly describing the physical and emotional difficulties involved with trying to conceive. The details are abundant and the art is almost friendly in its approach-ability. I appreciate that this is a personal story told in an open and down to earth way that invites the reader to take the journey with her.

A very touching graphic memoir following Lucy’s journey to becoming a mother. Becoming a parent and giving birth is never a straight line and Lucy’s story is no exception. Thanks for sharing your story.

I've followed Lucy Knisley on Instagram for a while so I knew a bit of her story about her pregnancy and birth. What she's shared on Instagram is a tiny portion of what really happened. I love this book! I loved how she intersperses interesting pregnancy history and facts within the story. I laughed, I cried, and truly fell more in love with her family.

Advanced Reading Copy courtesy of NetGalley.

Lucy Knisley went through an extremely rough time in her pursuit to get pregnant and give birth. This graphic novel details all the anxiety, fear, and joy of becoming a new parent.

For starters, just WOW. Even as a not-yet-mother and single girl, this book packed a HUGE punch. Knisley's art paired with the honesty of her own personal journey to and through pregnancy (including some heart-wrenching and oh-so-important words on pregnancy loss) captivated me from start to finish. I have mother friends and doula friends and single friends that I will be recommending this to.

I love Lucy Knisley's Instagram SO much. She's funny and insightful about the wonderful absurdity of being a parent, and her drawings are simple but expressive. All of that humor and insight is on display here. I found myself nodding in recognition and tearing up during her son's (distressingly awful) birth. There's so much that people don't tell you about getting and being pregnant, and it's refreshing to see both Knisley's personal experience and the scientific and cultural histories from her research on the page.

Given both some of the history that she relates (the family who invented the forceps kept them secret for TWO HUNDRED YEARS, resulting in an untold number of deaths of babies and pregnant women) and her own personal experience (despite basically ALL the warning signs, her pre-eclampsia went undiagnosed, she almost died following an emergency c-section, she was discharged from the hospital still so sick that she was actively vomiting and had to be re-admitted the next day with a fever of 104), she maintains a relatively cool tone. I was boiling with indignation on her behalf, but her own indignation is barely hinted at.

Overall, a fantastic addition to the recent boom of baby/pregnancy memoirs, and well worth reading for parents-to-be of all genders.

The honesty with which Lucy Knisley has lead readers' through her life (the good, the bad, and everything in-between) has allowed us to feel as though we not only know her, but are friends with her. "Kid Gloves" is no different as she takes us through the heartbreak of fertility issues and miscarriages, all the way to her near-death experience during labor and delivery and transition into motherhood. She holds nothing back with her watercolor comic-style illustrations and lyrical prose that takes the reader through it all.

The beauty of Knisley's work is that it never feels isolating. Regardless if you have kids or not, Knisley draws you in with not only her story, but with the (at times ridiculous) history of reproductive health, women's rights, and the men and women of medicine. She does a lovely job of peppering in this information throughout the graphic novel in a seamless way that doesn't take the reader out of the story, but further enhances it. It also serves as a nice break from the at times jarring circumstances of her life, which can be emotionally overwhelming. It's a tough but important read.

Lucy Knisely will always have a special place in my heart and I look forward to sharing this book with many readers.

I absolutely loved this book! I have read other books by Lucy Knisley in the past so I was excited to read another graphic novel for adults. As a person not far removed from pregnancy and the early stages of motherhood, this one was a winner for me. Her research was meticulous and I learned so much about the "history" of birthing and information about preclampsia that I did not know before. The illustrations are fun and emotive- the color choices for the scenes added to the depth and emotion Lucy felt while trying to do what some people would say is an easy task- get pregnant. Her depiction of the process, and what happens after was realistic and serve as a reminder that our best laid plans usually veer way off course.

--Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.--

Lucy Knisley has done it again! Reading her memoir about the difficulties of conception, the funny things that happen during pregnancy and the difficulties of getting your doctor to listen to you. As usual, her art work it part of the story and makes her book shine. Great book for anyone who has ever had a child, plans to have a child or just wants to understand some of the process of having a child. Appropriate for mature readers as medical terms and concepts may be beyond younger readers. Really enjoyed this book! Thanks!

I fell in love with Lucy Knisley in her accounting of her childhood in Relish. Though I haven't read her other books, I was very impressed with Kid Gloves. The more you talk to mothers of small children about pregnancy the more you hear "nobody ever told me about that part" for both pregnancy and birth. Lucy tells you though. She talks about miscarriages and hopes and fears and makes vividly real the torture of morning sickness. The personal memoir is well balanced with history and trivia. I laughed, I cried, I learned.

I love Lucy Knisley books. They are incredibly relateable and provide wonderful insight into daily life.. Keep writing more!

When I was a new mom, Lucy Knisley's Instagram gave me a lifeline. And now this book can be a lifeline for women trying to conceive. Lucy unpacks the culture around working towards parenthood, around medicine and pregnancy and women's health and history. KID GLOVES is a well-researched meditation on parenthood, but it is also a kind voice during a time when so many voices, some kind and some not, try to speak over one another. Out of the din emerges Lucy and her story and her self-awareness and her compassion for herself and for others, and this book is the product of all of that. A beautiful, meaningful read for everyone thinking about becoming a parent.

This was an excellent story of pregnancy and loss, intermingled with facts and information on pregnancy and maternity issues. As always, Lucy Knisley is a delight to both read and see on the page. She shares from the heart and doesn't hold back. Her openness is matched by her skill, and this book was a pleasure to experience.

I will read anything Lucy Knisley writes and illustrates. Kid Gloves is her latest memoir, bringing readers into her experiences with pregnancy and birth. But it's so much more than that: she brings us along with her as she goes through miscarriage and its aftermath; the anxiety over conception, and the stress of pregnancy, while basking in the glow of carrying a living little being inside of her. She lets us right in as she experiences a painful pregnancy and birth, thanks to a glossing over of a potentially fatal condition (pre-eclampsia), and opens up all the pain and self-doubt that new moms feel. She takes us readers right in there with her, giving us a loving, yet realistic view, of conception, pregnancy, and childbirth, all with her trademark sense of humor. This should be a shower gift, along with a copy of What to Expect While You're Expecting, to create a "What to REALLY Expect" package.

Really good! I think this is Lucy Knisley’s best book yet and also her most personal. After reading all her books it was nice to read this phase of the author’s life.

Lucy Knisley’s personal comics are always a great read, and this one takes you through her long, complicated pregnancy while also pairing nonfiction facts about pregnancy and motherhood throughout. It’s clear she did her research but also it’s so fun to read. I look forward to buying myself a copy.

Lucy Knisley continues to share her life with us through her art (both drawn & written). Her story is not easy to tell or read as her pregnancy journey was difficult. She confronts myths, societal norms and medical ignorance. This graphic memoir may help someone talk about the challenges they faced in their own pregnancy journey.

A completely delightful and engrossing read. Lucy Knisley takes the reader on a journey that is personal and universal, painful and joyful, and enlightening too.

She takes the reader on a journey through her miscarriage, various medical treatments, and eventually the pregnancy and birth of her first child. It's not easy, and Knisley is transparent about the emotional ups and downs that she and her partner John encounter along the way. She also provides much needed context about pregnancy and women's health, both medical fact and fiction, social pressures, the tragic history of women's reproductive health, and some of the failings of the modern medical profession that continue to this day.

I started reading this book on a Sunday morning thinking that I'd give it a quick peek, but ended up reading the entire book in one sitting. It sucks you in, and takes you on a roller coaster of emotions until you end up on the other side (spoiler alert, she does give birth, and Pal does end up being a healthy, happy little boy, but oh boy, what happens along the way is pretty dramatic.

I enjoyed this book alot -- the art is clear and appealing, and it;s full of interesting and human insights about a part of her life that is relatable and fascinating for women of all ages, kids or no kids.