This was a great book. I love the topic of reproductive rights and womens rights. This heartbreaking story is also inspiring. I wish more people would read about issues like this and be more openminded. There is normally a lot more going on with women's rights than people care to think about. I liked this story a lot

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Wow, prepare to feel gaslighted and enraged reading this one! But that is exactly why Belen's so important to hear. Belen is a woman in her twenties in rural Argentina who goes to the hospital with severe stomach pain. She ends up leaving the hospital for prison. Unbeknownst to Belen, she was twenty(?) weeks pregnant, and the pain was her miscarrying. When she comes to at the hospital, Belen is reported by the hospital and charged with murdering her baby. Prior to her trial, she serves two years in prison in deplorable conditions. The evidence against Belen transforms to suit the desire of those prosecuting her. She is later sentenced to an additional 8 years in prison for a crime she never committed. It shows the terrifying reality when your family has limited resources, and you become victim of a punitive system. This book reads very quickly with short chapters and gives a glimpse into the injustice that can come with interfering with women's reproduction and making assumptions when pregnancy doesn't result in a live birth. An eye-opening and important story of vital importance as our healthcare landscape and rights change.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

What Happened to Belén by Ana Elena Correa

In 2014, a young woman went to a hospital in rural Argentina because of a stomachache. While there, she miscarried a pregnancy she didn't know about, her privacy was invaded, and when she left it wasn't to her home but to prison on homicide charges. This is the story of Belén, but also the story of the women who stood by her side, believed her, and fought for her freedom.

This is a heavy, difficult read about a sensitive topic. However, I think it is an important one. It gives an important perspective on women's rights and protections, especially for those with lower income.

Please take care of yourself when deciding whether to read this book.

Thank you @netgalley for the eARC

thank you to netgalley, harper one and author, ana elena correa for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
this was a case i was previously unfamiliar with. it was beautifully written and i couldn’t put it down once i got going. the introduction by margaret atwood helps set the tone but the story carries the horror and how fragile women’s rights can be.
as abortion rights are constantly under fire and debate, this is an important precautionary story to remember. it could be any of us with a uterus, tomorrow. until we have equality and protections, we are all in danger.
the chapters are a little short and choppy but it helps move the book along, it was just a different type of reading than i’m typically accustomed to.
i highly recommend this one. everyone should read this

Book Review: "What Happened to Belén: The Unjust Imprisonment That Sparked a Women’s Rights Movement" by Ana Elena Correa

Ana Elena Correa’s “What Happened to Belén: The Unjust Imprisonment That Sparked a Women’s Rights Movement” is a powerful and harrowing exploration of a dark chapter in contemporary Argentine history. As someone who deeply values feminist principles and has a background in Spanish history and culture, I was both intrigued and horrified by this account of systemic injustice.

The narrative centers around Belén, a young woman who faced severe repercussions for a tragic incident (a miscarriage) that exposed deep-seated corruption and misogyny within Argentina’s judicial system. The book’s portrayal of her ordeal is so shocking that it initially seemed almost too outrageous to be true. However, the grim reality of Belén’s story is confirmed by Correa’s meticulous research and compelling storytelling.

“What Happened to Belén” reveals that the struggles faced by women in Argentina are not confined to the country’s tumultuous past (for example, in the Dirty War where many citizens were kidnapped and many mothers and grandmothers protested for the return of their children) but continue to pervade the present day. This book is a stark reminder that the fight for women’s rights is ongoing, and it challenges readers to confront the persistent inequalities within society — whether that’s within Argentina or worldwide.

This book is an essential read for anyone interested in women’s rights, Argentine history, and/or the broader struggle for justice and equality. Correa’s account not only sheds light on a significant but underreported event but also serves as a call to action, especially considering the recent overturn of Roe v. Wade in the United States. It’s a must-read for those who want to understand the complexities of gender and justice in modern Argentina and beyond.

**Disclaimer:** This review was assisted by AI, but all thoughts, opinions, and interpretations expressed are my own.

Do you ever wonder what would happen if you or a friend, or your kid went to the hospital with a horrible pain in your abdomen, in a state that has made abortion a criminal offense? What happens if you had a miscarriage before you knew you were pregnant? This is what happens to Belen in Argentina. She is convicted of homicide and put in prison for 2 years. Unfortunately, this could happen in WAY too many places, including here in the US. This is her story and the unintended consequences of laws that don't make sense for women,

Thank you to HarperOne & NetGalley for this ARC!

This book is a must-read for all women, highlighting the fragile nature of our freedoms and the urgent need for activism in human rights movements. As a first-generation Mexican American, I had never encountered Belén's story before reading this book.

The book deeply resonated with me because I have had two miscarriages within a year and a half. The pain of losing a baby is devastating enough, but the idea of also losing one's freedom is unimaginable. If I had been born in Argentina, I could have been in Belén's shoes, criminalized for a miscarriage. Any woman who has had a miscarriage could have faced the same fate. Belén's story is a glaring example of injustice, moving me to tears more than any book has before.

Given the current political climate in the US, with some presidential candidates pushing to criminalize abortions, this book's relevance is even more urgent. We often think such injustices only occur elsewhere, but they could very well happen here in the US. It's crucial to bring awareness to stories like Belén's to remind us of how vulnerable our rights are and the importance of staying active in human rights movements to ensure that no woman is ever incarcerated for a miscarriage because it is mistaken for an abortion.

Belen's story is one every woman should read. It is a warning about how things can change even in the United States. No woman should have her rights taken away and treated this way. Belen is a strong courageous woman and the world needed to hear her story, and support her.
Thank you for the digital galley.

This is such a powerful book. Correa's writing helps readers connect with the subject and people in this story. It shows the importance of fighting for women and the need for us to protect out rights. Correa is powerful, intelligent, and the writing pulls on the heart tricks and strikes a rage in you when reading

Belen is the pseudonym of the courageous Argentinian woman who was imprisoned for having a miscarriage. During her ordeal, Belen was subjected to harassment, verbal abuse, and false accusations by the very people who should have protected her. Finally, finding like-minded women who believed in her account of what happened, she was able to get the help she needed. Her case resulted in nationwide demonstrations for the rights of women to have abortions.

Besides Belen's story, there is an account of the trials and everything that led to the laws changing. Readers also learned details about the women and the lawyers involved in helping Belen and the human rights movement in Argentina. While reading this book, I couldn't help thinking about all that is happening in the U.S. right now concerning abortion. Whether you are for or against it, this is an important book for all readers to read. Thank you to Ana Elena Correa for writing Belen's story.

This was such a fascinating story and we should never discount something like this happening in the US. It's wild that so much has happened in the US since this was originally published and it's so wild that I had never heard of this case before. I wish the book could have kept the title, "Somos Belen" for its reprint, I just feel that is so much more fitting.