<i>ARC Review!</i>
Thank you NetGalley for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book dives in immediately, and while I usually avoid topics like these, I felt compelled to give it a chance.

Despite its brevity, it manages to be intensely moving. Even with limited backstory or description, you quickly form an emotional connection to the characters through the shared weight of their trauma. It is a raw, powerful portrayal of the suffering that restrictive abortion laws can bring to women. The story follows three individuals whose lives are intertwined, each facing a unique and harrowing outcome due to being denied access to abortion. It’s a stark reminder of the very real impact of laws like those at the heart of Roe v. Wade. I think this was a very good time to read this (considering it is election day, but that was completely unintentional).

Inspired from the Roe v. Wade, case in the US in 1973. This case was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the Court ruled that the Constitution of the United States protected a right to have an abortion. The decision struck down many abortion laws, and it sparked an ongoing abortion debate in the United States about whether, or to what extent, abortion should be legal, who should decide the legality of abortion, and what the role of moral and religious views in the political sphere should be. The decision also shaped debate concerning which methods the Supreme Court should use in constitutional adjudication.

It is sad that because of belief of a religion and politicians supporting that for their belief or for vote bank, women rights are being squashed. Abortion right is a basic need. There are many a times medical reasons for abortion. That's topic for another time.

It hurts to breathe is a raw and ripping depiction of what not allowing abortion can make women go through. There are three people who's stories are entangled with one another, each suffered a different trauma as a result of not being allowed to abort.

First POV is of a trans man who was raped and was pregnant as a result of that assault. It can be emotionally disturbing to read about his journey and his suffering throughout his life. Another is POV of a girl who was born as a result of an assault and parents refusal to abortion. I will never be able to understand how a religion can make one so blind that they can put their own child through unbearable trauma and abuse. The girl grows up feeling neglected and unloved by her mom, only person in her life is her mother's boyfriend who is also ripped off from her life coz of stupid beliefs.

Third is POV of the woman who was raped and was not allowed to abort and as a result, she has to bear watching her own kid grow who she can not love coz she reminds her of the abuse she suffered. These three are strong people, even though life threw them in ditches they came up strong.

I personally liked the theme but I feel writing wasn't good enough. The dialogues were disjointed. There was a note in the end which said it was autobiographical mostly and something about dream at the end which confused me as what exactly author wanted to convey to us readers.

Even when it handles such heavy themes, I did not feel weighted down by the writing and I'm saying it in a positive way. With such difficult subject and even then it wasn't a hard read in a way that writing wasn't much complex. It managed to be honest and devastating in non brutal way. I'm not sure if I'm able to convey my exact feelings here but it just felt easy to finish it.

Rating -3.75 stars

Thank you Netgalley and Amazon direct publishing for ARC in exchange of an honest review.

3.5/5 stars

this novella had me feeling so much. the characters felt incredibly real and human, and the story was insightful, especially with the different povs. i particularly liked the way it portrayed generational trauma, and the effects trauma has not only on the victims, but also those close to them and their relationships.

i really appreciated one of the povs being a trans man who experienced pregnancy from a rape during his childhood. i feel like this is something often overlooked — that trans men can also be victims of the same horrible traumas as cis women — and it was nice to see it represented here. it was also nice to see a trans man having a normal family life, just like how a cis man would. most media i see with trans characters focuses more on their transition, which is nice, but it’s also nice to see what happens after he’s medically and socially transitioned, when he’s living his life the same as any man could. it shows that trans people are just people like any other.

the progression of events felt logical and realistic, from the man’s upbringing in an unsafe environment to his desire to raise his own daughters in the way i imagine he wanted to be, ensuring that they felt safe and loved and knew he would always be there for them. from the mother being absent and emotionally unavailable for her daughter, to her daughter not really knowing how she’s supposed to love her own child. it showed how the traumas experienced by a parent will affect their children, and it did it well.

i’d also like to give a mention to the dream bit?? that hurt. why would you do that to me (in the best way possible).

the only critiques i have are the writing wasn’t quite there, for me. some of the dialogue felt a little forced, and i felt it could’ve done with being less blunt (although that did sometimes work in its favour) and it felt a little too short. i didn’t have as much time as i would’ve liked to get to know the characters, which i feel would’ve helped me empathise with them more and strengthened the emotional gut punch that this book was.

overall, this was a solid read. informative, emotional. and powerful. it gets the point across brilliantly, and even helped me understand some things about my own life. if you can stomach the content, i think you should definitely give this a read.

This is definitely a 4.5 star book. It had me feeling all the emotions. I definitely cried on the part that turned out to be a dream. I was hoping so bad it was true. I love how this book is wrote in different povs and it reminds me of a journal. I can’t wait to get me a physical copy of the book not only so I can reread it but so I can get my husband to read it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

it hurts to breathe by Jharna Sutaria is a deeply moving, raw, and necessary novella that confronts the harsh realities of a world where access to reproductive care is fraught with political barriers and social stigmas. Inspired by the devastating aftermath of 2022’s overturn of Roe v. Wade, Sutaria’s story resonates with the urgency of current events, weaving together themes of generational trauma, love, resilience, and healing in the wake of tragedy.

This novella is not an easy read, but it’s a powerful one. Sutaria uses a series of interconnected vignettes to tell the stories of three individuals, each struggling to find their place in a world that often feels too cruel, too unjust. There’s a transgender man who, after surviving the trauma of rape and a post-abortion childhood, searches for a sense of belonging that seems to elude him. His story is tenderly told, showing the impact of both his past trauma and the societal pressures that weigh on him as he tries to rebuild his life.

Then, there’s a young mother, torn between loyalty to her partner and her parents, forced to make impossible choices that challenge her sense of identity. Her internal struggle, set against a backdrop of familial expectations, is heartbreakingly relatable, especially in a world where women’s rights are continually called into question. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the emotional toll that political decisions take on individuals and families alike.

Finally, we meet a girl whose unwavering grit allows her to navigate life’s cracks, finding a way to love and heal despite the brokenness surrounding her. Her story, while perhaps the most hopeful of the three, does not shy away from the hardships she faces, making her resilience all the more poignant.

What makes it hurts to breathe so impactful is how it uses these different perspectives to explore the ripple effects of systemic injustice on everyday people. Each character’s experience is distinct, yet their struggles are inextricably linked by the common theme of seeking love and healing amidst a world that often denies them the care, compassion, and rights they deserve. The title itself, it hurts to breathe, reflects both the suffocating oppression they face and the tentative hope that keeps them moving forward.

Sutaria’s writing is lyrical and understated, capturing the quiet moments of pain and strength that define these characters’ lives. Her ability to distill complex emotions into a few lines is remarkable, giving the novella a poetic quality that lingers long after the final page. She doesn’t offer easy answers, but instead presents a nuanced portrayal of the intersections between personal trauma and political turmoil.

One of the novella’s strengths lies in its structure. The vignette style allows Sutaria to dive deep into the emotional core of each character’s experience without getting bogged down in unnecessary details. The result is a tightly crafted narrative that feels both intimate and universal, as though these could be the stories of anyone living through the post-Roe v. Wade reality.

If there’s any critique, it’s that the brevity of the novella sometimes leaves you wanting more—more time with these characters, more insight into their internal worlds. While the short, vignette format is effective in delivering emotional punches, there are moments where the narrative could benefit from additional depth, particularly when exploring the long-term impacts of trauma on these individuals’ lives.

Nevertheless, it hurts to breathe is an important, beautifully written novella that shines a spotlight on the human toll of political decisions. Sutaria has created a work that is both timely and timeless, a story of survival, love, and healing that will resonate with anyone who has ever been affected by reproductive rights—or the lack thereof. It’s a haunting and hopeful reminder that, despite the cracks in our society, love and resilience can still offer a way forward.

This was a very important and heartbreaking read. Major themes of abuse is talked about all throughout the book and at times it was difficult to read. I had to take a few breaks while reading because, even though the topics are important to discuss, it was still difficult to get through.

─ 𝟑 ★ 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 🕊️🪽 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐚

TW: R*pe, trauma. Please consider those before reading, as the reading is centered around those subjects, mostly.

As I was looking for a thought provoking ARC, I managed to get this one, and it was an emotional rollercoaster.

This novella is a powerful blend of emotion, resilience, and beauty. It skillfully weaves together themes of abuse, family dynamics, trauma, and love, creating a story that is both thought-provoking and deeply impactful. The way these themes are intertwined adds layers of complexity, making it a poignant and reflective narrative.

I especially thought it was interesting having the POVs of most of the characters shown in the story, to see how they dealt with their own traumas and how they feel about the other characters.

The author’s note about merging fact with fiction is especially striking, as it seamlessly fuses personal truth with creative storytelling to craft something truly compelling. Despite its brevity, the novella manages to convey its heavy subject matter with a certain grace, making it both accessible and profound. A truly moving read that lingers long after the final page.

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for trusting me with this ARC.

This was really moving.

The way that we get the same story from
3 different sides is quite different from most other books, I think. It feels so important to experience those events from each person’s perspective.

Even though every character is nameless and there’s very little information on what they look like or what there personalities are outside of the main focus of the narrative, it’s extremely difficult not to get emotionally attached to them all.

This novella was moving, harrowing and beautiful. The themes of abuse, family, trauma and love were incredibly intertwined and make a reflective and interesting story. As the author notes, this is based on fact and fiction, and it beautifully blends the two to create a wonderful story.

As it is a novella, it is short and easy to digest, despite the heavy subject matter. Thoroughly enjoyed.

I thought this book was mostly autobiographical, especially due to the final part where the narrator says that the novella is a mix of fact and fiction -- then the author's note did not reflect any of it being based in true life. That being said, it was a very quick read and I liked the differing points of view for the same story. The formatting was off and I did get confused at the first narrator getting pregnant at age 12 but later saying the abortion was at age 11, so I think it could do with some more editing.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a very blunt novella. It makes some aspects of the story more impactful, though I think later on it takes a bit from it as well. Despite that feeling I think the bluntness is important given the fact this book handles controversial and emotional topics.

I must say I really appreciate that this books addresses that (cis) women are not the only ones who are impacted by reproductive rights threats. Despite the fact it's something to be aware of, it is incredibly hard to have the energy to read things on it when they are so gendered. I think this book should be read even just to remind people of the realities of the people who may need such care.

Overall, this is a good novella and definitely worth a read.

This was a beautifully created heart-breaking collection of poetry that dealt with so many important and hard hitting topics.

Beautiful and deeply personal, this novella explores themes of identity, family and abuse. The prose was easy to read, despite the subject matter being incredibly difficult. I applaud Sutaria for writing such a moving piece and bravely putting their story out into the world.

This quick read was inspired by the overturning of Roe v Wade, but does not focus solely on abortion. Sure, there is an abortion at the start of the story (and the question of another), but I found the topic of created family to be more compelling and abortion is but one component in that. A rape and subsequent abortion experienced by a transman earlier on in his life starts us off and in alternating chapters, we hear other voices that become closer and more distant throughout the years. There are voices of anger, pain, and yearning. It comes together a bit too tidy for my liking in the end, but also provides some relief in that it reinforces the idea that family can continue to be created and doesn't ever have to be finished.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley but it has been out since last year. This novella was heartbreaking, intense and so very very good. The book had me near sobbing.