Jacqueline Friedland’s Counting Backwards is such an interesting and unsettling novel that brings the dark history of eugenics into the present, making it impossible to ignore how its legacy still lingers. Blending historical fiction with contemporary legal drama, the book follows two women - Carrie Buck, a young woman in 1920s Virginia who becomes the face of a landmark Supreme Court case, and Jessa Gidney, a modern-day lawyer uncovering shocking abuses in a detention center. Their stories, though separated by a century, are disturbingly connected.

The novel excels in weaving fact with fiction, exposing how systemic injustices, particularly in reproductive rights and medical ethics, have persisted over time. Friedland’s research is evident, making the historical elements all the more chilling. The parallels between past and present are not just compelling but enraging. This is the kind of book that makes you stop, Google something, and feel your stomach drop when you realize it’s all true.

That said, while the narrative is strong, some of the character work doesn’t hit as hard as it could. Carrie’s story is heartbreaking, but at times, I wished for a deeper emotional connection to her experiences. Jessa’s arc is intriguing, especially as she grapples with her growing awareness of the horrors she’s uncovering, but some aspects of her storyline feel underexplored.

Despite this, Counting Backwards is a powerful, necessary read. It forces readers to confront difficult truths, not just about history, but about the present. It’s not just a book, it’s a wake-up call.

Counting Backwards by Jacqueline Friedland is a dual-timeline historical fiction novel inspired by true events.

Jessa Gidney is a lawyer in New York, and by 2022, she thought she would have made a partner at her law firm and be pregnant with her first child to her husband, who she adores, but nothing seems to be going as planned. When she takes a pro bono immigration case at an ICE detention center, she never expects the dark secrets she’ll uncover there and its surprising ties to her own family.

Carrie Buck has been a ward of the state of Virginia since 1912, when she was taken away from her family at the age of six. Poor, uneducated, and mistreated by her foster family, Carrie’s life is turned upside down when she becomes the face of the eugenics movement in a case before the Supreme Court.

This novel is for readers who enjoy dual timelines and a unlikeable protagonist. I really enjoyed Carrie’s timeline but struggled more with Jessa. Self-centered and with a white savior complex, I dreaded her chapters even though the events of them were interesting, and I felt deeply for the ICE detainees.

Counting Backwards is a moving novel addressing important issues of eugenics, women’s rights, immigration rights, and the roles and expectations for women and girls. Jacqueline Friedland is a talented writer, and many people will love this novel. I look forward to reading more of Friedland’s work in the future.

Wow! This book was fantastic. The history and story telling were great. It is so scary to think how quickly someone’s life can change without their consent. To have someone make a life changing decision for you is unbelievable.

I can’t express how much I love this book! It’s been called a modern day Erin Brockovich & is mentioned in the book as well. I completely agree. It’s heartbreaking & addicting all at the same time.

The work Jessa does when she discovers what’s been going on & the complete horror that Carrie suffered is crushing.

Told between two time periods with eerily similar, tragic, & devastating incidents happening to women, I was wrapped in pain. These things should never have happened. It angers me that there are such inhumane humans that still think it’s okay to do what they want to other humans.

The narration of Amanda Stribling & Carolyn Jania is wonderful for these characters. .

An interesting story — more of a love story as the married couple struggles mightily. I enjoyed. The legal aspects of the book’s plot and found that well done by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved the premise and was really excited to read this book, but it just really missed the mark for me on a number of places.

First of all, I felt a little bit iffy about using a real life person's story and fully integrating a real life into a fictional story. The way it was all intermeshed felt a little ethically vague to me. I don't know, I don't have anything conclusive to say just that it felt a little uncomfortable to me - to write someone's story in your fictional book and to make your main character the descendent of a real life person.

My second major issue was with the present day MC. Maybe this is a me issue, but I felt like (at least in the first half of the book) the way she interacted with the women detained at the ICE facility was really strange. I don't know if this is truthfully representative of the average American, but she was so naive and ignorant to a microaggressively racist point. I think even if this was meant to be the character and representative, it could have then been resolved and dispelled more than it was.

My last issue was the ending. I think it was a disservice to the book to end it where it did. I understand if the author intended the MC's journey to be the main plot line, but I feel like the legal case was an equally weighted plot. I think it was really unfortunate to relegate the end of the case to a small update in the epilogue and then a little new clipping at the end. I think the book would have been much more compelling if it had focused on the proceedings and what was gained (and what wasn't, if we're being realistic).

Anyway, I did enjoy reading the book and I would recommend it, but with a word of caution. I think it's very important to learn about and be educated on eugenics and its history (as well as its present, because it is present and very evident in policy in the United States today). All in all, I think the book did the story and message a disservice.

This is my first five star book of the year. You know when a book changes how your perspective on life? This book did exactly that and I will be recommending it to everyone I know. It is an illuminating story on immigration and women's rights in America told through immaculate storytelling. Counting Backwards is haunting and impossible to put down. I'd recommend this book to everyone I know.

What an incredible story. I remember learning very little about how Hitler/the Nazis obsession with eugenics started, so it was interesting to read about Laderdale's contributions. Awful, but enlightening. While I learned a lot, I did find it hard to relate to Jessa sometimes. I couldn't actually tell if Vance was a good guy or not, because sometimes he really seemed like it, and given all she was hiding from him, his reactions often made sense. It seemed like she blamed him too much for their failing marriage, when she hadn't been telling him all the things that were going on with her... Still, I liked the format of the timelines, and how the stories came together. I learned a lot reading this one, and I think it would be an awesome book club read!

Content: some swearing (including F words), references to sex (mildly clinically graphic -in describing difficulty in conceiving), references to miscarriage (mildly graphic), references to rape (not graphic -one fade to black scene), discussions of eugenics (via nonconsensual gynecological medical procedures -not graphic).


I received this book free from the publisher/author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

This one will stay with me. Counting Backwards ties the story of real-life Carrie Bucks, a women who was unwillingly sterilized in the 1920s, with the "fictional but based on a true story" story of women in the 2020s who are unknowingly being given hysterectomies while being held in an ICE detention center. NYC lawyer Jessa is unsatisfied with her stalling career and dealing with her own fertility issues and the impact on her marriage that they cause when she volunteers for a pro bono case representing a detained immigrant. Little does she know that the case will evolve into so much more and Jessa finally has something meaningful in her life to focus on when the rest of her life seems to be going to pot. Throw in a family secret and an colleague that she's seeing in an intriguing new way, and it's a lot..... but in a good way. I got into the story right from the start and kept turning the pages to see how it all would resolve... finished this quick but intense read in about 2.5 days. This would be a good one for a book club because lots to discuss and between immigrant rights and reproductive rights, so very timely (unfortunately).

Note: thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

This will sink into your heart and hang on long after reading it. I was blown away by the powerful story behind the unassuming pomegranate cover and was left feeling appalled and pissed off but determined to fight for better. There’s never been a greater time to read a book like this one.

~ Explores motherhood, fertility, reproductive rights, eugenics and immigration
~ Historical fiction about Buck v. Bell case (sterilization of institutionalized individuals)
~ Dual timeline narrative
~ Award worthy

Friedland created a timely story inspired by true events that uncovers America’s troubled past with eugenics practices. She wove together the lives of two women while exploring topics like motherhood, fertility, reproductive rights and immigration. It was shocking to learn how various institutions have orchestrated modern day eugenics. You don’t have to be a woman to care about reproductive freedom. Documented or not, all women deserve authorization over their bodies – it’s not political, it’s human rights.

The strong female characters made me feel proud to be a woman. Jessa’s pregnancy journey while balancing the fragile corporate ladder and boys club was a stark reminder of the sacrifices we make to have it all. She Erin Brokovich’ed her way into a class action lawsuit, using her privilege to give a voice to the voiceless and fight for better. Her yearning to have her own family urged a powerful fight for the women who never got a choice, even if taking on this massive case meant derailing everything in her path to fight for them. Her partner Vance was the king of gaslighting, so be ready to shake your head until it snaps from your neck at how he talks to her. If they didn’t separate by the end of the story I was gonna throw my Kindle out the window.

I’m so glad I stumbled across this book from a Goodreads ad. I wasn’t prepared for the journey it would take me on but I’m glad I went on it. We need to do better, plain and simple.

Thanks @harpermuse for the digital copy!

Fascinating, frustrating and heartbreaking. This book highlighted a real United States issue that is barely talked about in the media. It’s absolutely insane it has ever happened & continues to be a problem. The dual timelines made the story flow very well and the connection between the two stories really made the story. The background personal drama took away from the story at times and the story lacked enough emotional depth to really keep me hooked. But it was a unique story & highlighted a very real issue. Definitely a must read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Jacqueline Friedland's fifth novel, COUNTING BACKWARDS, is a powerful, timely, and riveting must-read. Inspired by actual events, the author delves into America's dark history of eugenics in this gripping dual-timeline novel, a narrative that resonates with the ongoing struggle for women's rights.

Featuring two remarkably courageous women, COUNTING BACKWARDS delves into the essential and complex topics of eugenics, reproductive injustice, immigration law, fertility, sterilization, abortion, adoption, women's rights, and motherhood. Their bravery in the face of adversity is truly inspiring.

About...

New York, 2022:
Jessa Gidney, age 31, is a lawyer and has been passed over to be a partner at her Manhattan law firm. She wants to become a mother but has not had any luck. Dissatisfied with her career, she decides to take on pro bono work, and her first case is an incarcerated woman, Isobel, who is fighting against a deportation order.

Jessa soon discovers things about Isobel's health that lead her to a terrifying pattern of medical malpractice within the women's detention facility. Her corporate law firm is not supportive, and her husband Vance wants her to take time off from everything, but her mother is a huge supporter.

She is undecided about diving in with the stress; however, when she discovers a shocking family secret (her own), she knows she must fight for these women.

Virginia, 1927.
Carrie Buck, age 17, Virginia, has not had an easy life. She has dreams and wants to continue school and get an education. However, she is living with a foster family that made her quit school and work for them (unpaid).

She wants a family one day. The foster family's nephew takes advantage of her, and she becomes pregnant. The foster family is unsupportive, and now she is alone and pregnant with no future in sight.

As a ward of the State, she is designated as "feebleminded" and left to the mercy of a corrupt and heartless legal system. Her courageous fight for her destiny leads to a landmark Supreme Court case.

How will the women and their respective cases connect? Will they find the courage to fight for what they deserve against all odds? These questions form the intriguing thread that connects the two timelines in this riveting novel.

"Progress is rarely a straight line and always hard-won."

My thoughts...

COUNTING BACKWARDS is a hauntingly beautiful tale of loss, love, compassion, and hope that resonates with the emotional journey of women's rights. These memorable characters will tug at your heartstrings and remain with you long after the book ends. I loved these women!

As a former whistleblower (first case reaching federal level SOX Sarbanes-Oxley 2022), I love Erin Brockovich-type stories. I am passionate about fighting for the underdog and accountability, especially regarding justice for women and helping those with no voice. I found this novel to be a compelling read and a stark reminder that we still have a long way to go in protecting human rights, particularly women's reproductive rights.

With alternating POVs (two remarkable women) and a compelling dual-timeline, COUNTING BACKWARDS delivers a timely, emotional, and powerful message about the historical and present-day use of women's bodies against them. Inspired by real-life events, this essential read sheds light on a topic that still rings true today.

Thought-provoking, part coming of age, family drama, literary, historical, legal, and women's fiction, the brilliantly written novel exposes shocking revelations of the betrayal of women by governmental institutions and their fight for rights. It balances it with courage and hope with a satisfying conclusion.

It is a powerful, heart-wrenching story of fierce strength, forgotten history, legacy, and empowerment. This well-written novel is an ideal choice for book clubs and further discussions. I appreciated the author's note and additional reading resources. My first book by the author, and I cannot wait to read more.

Pomegranates...

I enjoyed the symbolism of Pomegranates with the beautiful cover and more. Pomegranates have diverse cultural-religious significance as a symbol of life and fertility owing to their many seeds,

It is not difficult to see why the pomegranate has traditionally been considered a powerful visual metaphor for fertility. The pomegranate is known for the beauty of its shrub, flowers, and fruit—symbolizing sanctity, fertility, and abundance.

Audiobook...

I enjoyed reading the book and listening to the audiobook performed by the talented Amanda Stribling and Carolyn Jania. It further elevates this emotional story and makes the characters come alive with distinct and engaging voices for a must-listen audio experience!

Recs...

COUNTING BACKWARDS is for fans of the author and those interested in women's rights. Also, for fans of Meagan Church's The Last Carolina Girl and The Girls We Sent Away, Dolen Perkins Valdez's Take My Hand, and Diane Chamberlain's Necessary Lies. (all favorites).

Thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for a gifted, advanced review and listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: March 11, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars +
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This dual time period novel focuses on the important issue of women’s reproductive rights. In the modern day, the story is focused on Jessa, a driven lawyer (who also has been trying to get pregnant). She takes on a pro bono case to help a woman detained by ICE to fight deportation, only to find that something more sinister may be happening in the detention center. And in the past, it’s the story of Carrie, a woman who eventually becomes the center of the Supreme Court case Buck v Bell about the legality of sterilizing people without their consent.

Often in dual time period books one timeline is more compelling than the other - but not in this one as both storylines were extremely interesting and emotional. This would make a great book club book, as there is a lot to dig into - reproductive rights, immigration, careers, relationships, and more.

I am probably one of the rare readers who had actually heard of the Supreme Court case, but I was hazy on the details and also enjoyed having it fleshed out into the story of a real person. And as a former lawyer myself (the author even went to the same law firm as me), I enjoyed the legal aspects of the book (though I had a nitpick or two about law firm life) but I think it could just as easily be enjoyed by someone without a legal background. This was my first book by Jacqueline Friedland, but I look forward to checking out her backlist.

Counting Backwards is a powerful yet unsettling novel that highlights the ongoing fight for women's bodily autonomy. Told in a dual timeline, it follows the stories of Carrie Buck in 1927 and Jessa Gidney in 2022.

Carrie dreams of escaping her life as an unpaid laborer for her foster family. Her dreams are shattered when she becomes pregnant and institutionalized against her will. Her fate is decided by a society that deems her "unfit" to have children.

Jessa is a modern day attorney who uncovers similar injustices in an immigrant detention center. When she uncovers similar injustices in an immigrant detention center. When she takes on a pro bono case at her law firm representing Isobel Perez her investigation uncovers a pattern of medical malpractice within the detention facility. As she dives deeper she discovers a personal connection tot he past, compelling her to fight for justice.

Counting Backwards is a must read for anyone who appreciates historical fiction with real world relevance. I am still thinking about this book!!

I don’t even know where to begin with this review. Counting Backwards is an incredibly written book inspired by true events. The dual timeline tells the story of Carrie Buck, a woman living in 1920s Virginia who finds herself at the center of a massive legal battle in the American world of eugenics, and Jessa Gidney, a lawyer in 2022 who takes on pro bono work at a local ICE detention center and discovers a pattern of horrifying medical malpractice taking place there.

Counting Backwards is a maddening story of how eugenics CONTINUES to ruin peoples’ lives and reproductive rights, even decades after it was debunked as a pseudoscience. Did you know that Nazi Germany actually modeled its heinous racial laws after American eugenics practices? Yup, you read that right. And to think that there are immigrant women in the United States who are being horrifically mistreated at detention centers to this day…I had to put the book down multiple times because I kept getting so angry. This book is not an easy read, but it’s an important and timely

Friedland did a fantastic, thorough job researching for this book, and as someone with a history degree, I always appreciate an “Additional Reading” list at the end of a novel. Counting Backwards is my first book by Friedland but it definitely won’t be my last.

Counting Backwards by Jacqueline Friedland is the perfect book to add to your March TBR in honor of Women's History Month. This book will be published March 11, 2025. I had the privilege of receiving an ARC from @getredprbooks @jackiefriedland @harpermusebooks
This book follows Jessa, who is a lawyer, as she takes on a case helping Isobel who has been arrested and is facing the possibility of being deported. As she works together with Isobel she learns disturbing information about how Isobel was treated when receiving medical attention.
Jessa learns of a woman named Carrie Buck, who nearly 100 years ago was facing her own medical malpractice and apart of a legal battle that was stripping her rights away.
I want to take note that Carrie Buck was a real woman who really faced all of the injustice that Jacqueline writes about.
This book is Historical Fiction with elements of true, heartbreaking story.
I think this story shows how in the course of 100 years we still have not made strides of progression when it comes to women's bodily autonomy and have a long way to go.
Jessa does whatever she can to help Isobel and the other women like her, who faced horrifying medical malpractice, while also dealing with her own possibilities of infertility and fighting for her marriage.
Jessa shows how women truly never stop and we are constantly having to do double the work just so people of power believe us and take us seriously.
This is truly a perfect book for women's history month as it explores a true story while also showcasing the reality so many women still face today.
I encourage every woman to read the story. It's beautiful, heartbreaking, and educational.
I wanted to share a quote from the story that really stood out to me. "People can be many things. Altruistic clinic directors, loving fathers, and yes, also bigoted, racist, intolerant scientist, responsible for great tragedies. Your legacy will be what you make it, and that is why you are defending these women, so the footprint you leave behind in the world is the exact opposite of the one my father left."
I think this quote really sums up what the story is all about.

4.5 stars

Counting Backwards was such an interesting, thought-provoking story. We follow two characters, Carrie Buck and Jessa Gidney during two different periods.

Jessa, a wife and lawyer, discovers dark secrets of her family's history as she helps incarcerated illegal immigrants fight for their rights. Carrie, a young girl who is taken from her family and placed in the foster care system, navigates the feeling of falling in love for the first time only to be abandoned and left pregnant, ultimately getting kicked out of her home once again.

Themes intertwine between these two characters, including women's roles and rights, reproductive rights, immigration law and so much more. My only complaint was that I didn't feel a personal connection to the characters despite their emotionally gripping situations.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in those themes. Personally, historical fiction is not my favourite genre but one of the perspectives being set in the mid-1920's didn't impact my reading experience at all. I truly enjoyed both POVs.

This was a gripping story that explores issues like reproductive rights and systemic injustice, and shows how ordinary people can make a difference. It’s definitely an emotional and thought provoking read.

The dual timeline was well done, and made the story even more compelling. And I loved
Jessa’s empathy and dogged determination to protect those without a voice.

I received a copy from the publisher and Austenprose PR via NetGalley, but a positive review was not required. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

This was one of the most heartbreaking yet thought-provoking books ever. I was gripped the entire time, even if I needed many cry breaks. I loved the way the author masterfully blended history with a modern story and voice. The ending was brilliant and I loved that Jessa was able to find her own strength in the end

Unfortunately, this book simply was not for me. As a fellow lawyer, I found myself rolling my eyes at the lifestyle described by the main character when she should have been relatable in many ways. I had no interest in reading the perspective of a six year old, even if the author is attempting to set up a retelling of a famous court case. I groaned when I realized what was going on, and had to put the book down. I agree with the point about sterilization that the author is making and the troubling aspects of the immigration/detention issue but, man. Not for me.