This was a really unique story (compared to any other books I’ve read), and it was so heartbreaking but amazing. The dual timeline/POV between Carrie’s heartbreaking story about forced sterilization, and Jessa fighting for the women that this is still happening to was so interesting and while the topic is so sad, I loved this book. Fantasticly written, and a relevant topic.

I binge-read this in 24 hours and it was such a compelling read. Based on actual events, it is chilling reminder that exploitation of women can take many forms.

I've read powerful stories about motherhood and loss, but none like this. The grief that the characters suffered from forced sterilization just made me feel sad and distressed. While I don't have or intend to have children, at least I know that I made that choice myself. And it was only made worse with the dual timeline, knowing that it didn't happen just in the past but continued even less than a decade ago.

No less interesting was Jessa's personal situation, her trauma and insecurities about getting pregnant and needing that last link to biological family to feel complete.

Highly recommend this one!

COUNTING BACKWARDS - JACQUELINE FRIEDLAND

I cannot tell you how absorbed I was by this book and the topics it covers. And in a world where laws are currently being made about women's rights and their access to important medical services, Counting Backwards feels like an essential and relevant read for our times.

Flipping between Jessa in 2022 and Carrie in 1927, these two storylines are connected in a number of different ways. Jessa, through her pro bono legal work at an immigration detention centre, encounters women who have received gynaecological healthcare through the centre - but have found themselves sterilised, which they didn't consent to.

Carrie, my favourite character in the book, is based on a real person. Carrie was used as an example to pass a law that forced women who were deemed undesirable and undeserving of reproduction to be sterilised. And this actually happened, with thousands of women being sterilised in multiple states.

Back to Jessa, who discovers that someone in her family is connected to Carrie's case while also dealing with her own infertility issues and journey to becoming pregnant. There's a lot going on in this book, but Jacqueline Friedland writes in a way that's clear and that highlights the emotional states of the characters beautifully.

If you get all the way to the author's note at the end, you'll find out that everything in the book is drawn from actual historical events and more recent incidents. That's what makes Counting Backwards a truly harrowing read, and one that sparks rage for the characters and, of course, the reader. I completely recommend it.

My only note is that I wish we could hear more from Jessa's clients as they experience the legal case and the effects on their lives, given that they are the ones who underwent truly horrific experiences.

Thank you to Jacqueline Friedland, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC.

Release date: 11 March 2025

Review score: 4/5

Trigger warnings: r*pe, infertility, miscarriage, uninformed medical procedures (off-page), eugenics

The story is set in two timelines: 1927 where we hear the story of Carrie and 2022 where we meet Jessa.

Jessa takes a pro-bono case to defend a woman being held at ICE. Whilst there she uncovers some awful information about the women there being sterilised against their will. Given Jessa has been trying so hard for a child herself, this ignited a spark in her to fight.

She uncovers a similar story of Carrie who was sent to a Colony and used as a test subject at the time. More women were sterilised to rid the world of their ‘useless’ genes.

Linked to the real life Buck vs Bell Supreme Court case this book reveals the startling history of eugenics, human rights and female sterilisation.

Covering heavy, emotional topics and challenging the current justice system, this was an eye opening read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Harper Muse and Net Galley.

'...that high-spirited woman's body had been altered irrevocably, in a manner that would prevent her ever having another child'.

Jessa is a high-powered corporate lawyer who's become increasingly obsessed with getting pregnant - it's all a part of her life plan, together with making partner at her law firm. However, when she decides to take on a pro-bono legal case at an immigrant detention centre, the ability to have children takes on a whole new meaning.

Jessa's story alternates with Carrie Buck's story, a hundred years prior. It's the mid 1920s and after Carrie was taken from her mother and forced into a foster home. Sadly, this is just the beginning of her tough journey, when she's forced into a situation that ultimately sends her to court and puts her front and centre of a historic eugenics case, 'The girl before you is feeble-minded and must be sexually sterilized for both her own good and the good of society'.

'Counting Backwards' is a story is based on the real life eugenics atrocity of Carrie Buck in the 1920s. It is brought into glaring, contemporary relevance, with disturbing forced sterilisation cases in an immigrant detention centre. The horror of what has passed, and what has only more recently happened, is connected by a disturbing tether.

This is a confronting tale. One that not only delves into a past, murky history regarding women's rights but sadly the continued saga around women's reproductive choices. Telling this type of story was always going to be difficult to tell. To that end, I did find it hard to connect with the contemporary character, Jessa, at times. However, it is another story that needs to be told and the author's notes are a must read to really appreciate the complexity of this topic.

'You have to stop living your whole life based on the worst thing that's happened to you'.

Jessa spent the last several years trying to prove why she deserved partner at her Manhattan law firm but after continuing to be passed over she’s ready to live life on her own terms.

Her and her husband are trying for a baby and after being told she needs less stress in her life she’s ready to step back at work. This leads her to a pro bono case fighting against the deportation of Isobel Perez.

When Jessa goes to the detention facility to meet Isobel, she learns of gross medical malpractice against the women who are held there.

Then we meet Carrie Buck. Carrie grew up poor in the 1920s and wrongly ended up in a home for the “feeble minded.”

Jessa and Carrie’s stories end up connecting and the parallels between what Carrie went through in the 1920s and what women at detention centers in 2022 are disgustingly similar.

The author did a phenomenal job with research and making her facts feel attainable to the reader.

The way men continue to think they know what’s best for women’s bodies is enraging. The way that the poor are treated, taken advantage of and then threatened against taking retaliation is sick. The fact that this is still present day… sick.

Read this book!

But take mind for trigger warnings.

Thanks to @netgalley for this e-arc! Out 3/11!✨✨✨

Counting Backwards
Talk about hot button topics, WOW! The way the dual timeline novel played out and connected was unique and intriguing. I’m thankful for the author’s note at the end. I did not know.
Full video review on my social platform.

very unique and interesting novel about an absolutely awful situation. i found the plot very strong, but the characters were less so. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

I’m not even sure where to begin with this review…this book is absolutely one of the best I’ve read in a long time. The subject matter is so important- women’s reproductive rights, the idea that eugenics is still being carried out over a century later, and how immigrants in America are treated as 2nd class humans. Based on a real-life case from the 1920’s and bounces back and forth between then and 2022, the author does an incredible job combining facts with a fictional style to make the book flow smoothly. This is a MUST READ!!

“She could rarely be found without her e-reader, and its extra large font, somewhere close by.”

Jessa wants nothing more than to be a mother. When she gets passed over for partner at her law firm, she decides to take on a pro bono case and ends up working to help someone that is detained for deportation by ICE. Their first meeting however, lets her know more than she ever expected. Her client had a life changing surgery, without her knowledge, ending her ability to have children, and it seems to be a common trend for others as well. Her husband Vance just wants her to take a break and relax, not get so wrapped up in this case. However, around 100 years ago, Carrie was removed from her mother’s care and put into foster care. All she wants is to leave and make a life with a family of her own. When she gets pregnant in the worst way, they declare her feeble minded and decide to make her their test case. Carrie’s case opened up a new plan for those deemed “unfit” and left the door open for horrifying situations for women for over 100 years.

ALL FIVE BEAUTIFUL BRIGHT STARS! Ok so first of all….I started this book and was enjoying, and then I hit the quote above and lost it. All the tears. I was laying in bed just sobbing. As many of you know I lost my Grandfather earlier this year and this was him. He always had this kindle on him, and the font was massive. Reading this line I immediately saw him in his reading spot and just had all the feels. So that was a great start for this one, but damn if it didn’t only go up from there. If there is ever a time where you have to read the authors note, this book is it. The fact that this was happening so recently is horrifying and honestly I am worried for what the current administration will do. This book was heartbreaking, and horrifying. I loved that Jessa was so determined to fight this case, and Carrie’s story will seriously rip your heart out. I dm’d Jackie while reading and let her know I couldn’t tell if I really disliked Vance, or if it was just the name Vance, but I kind of feel like it was a bit of both! I seriously don’t even know what to say other than you need to read this book! It was absolutely phenomenal and my first full 5 star read of 2025.

Thank you to @harpermusebooks for my gifted copy of this book!

This book was incredible. It was so captivating and really did historical fiction in the most perfect way. Reading Counting Backwards in a climate like today’s is so inspiring yet also so daunting. It really reflects how times unfortunately haven’t progressed as much as the media likes to portray.

I thought Jacqueline was such an amazing, complex character. Sometimes in books law can bore me a little, but I found the complete opposite with Jessica.

This is historical fiction that is absolutely applicable today and the perfect story to get more Americans to open their eyes. As a lover of the law, I really enjoyed following Jessa's legal career and looking back at the Supreme Court case, as well as seeing how she moved forward with this case. Jacqueline gives us a great inside look at what being an attorney is like while also bringing to the forefront the issue of eugenics, the American prison system, reproductive rights and so much more. Many in America have forgotten or closed their eyes to what has happened in the past, what is currently happening and what needs to be done in our country. This book is perfection in bringing it all to light and in a captivating way.

This book is so timely. Inspired by a 2020 story of women in ICE detention who had medical procedures without their consent and Carrie Buck's story in the 1920s, this book focuses on bodily autonomy, women's rights, immigration rights and grief. I loved the present day story with Jessa and her journey with understanding herself and her own personal grief. While I've read books that have had eugenics as a topic, this was the first I have heard of Carrie Buck's case. This book is moving and should be required reading. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for a chance to read this one early in exchange for an honest review.

I love the author’s writing style which makes her books hard to put down! This book explores timely themes and is set in present day and in the past- a must read for those who also love historical fiction. Releases in March- A pre-order!

"Counting Backwards" is a powerful and emotional story that connects the struggles of two women, Jessa Gidney in 2022 and Carrie Buck in 1927, through themes of justice, reproductive rights, and the fight against exploitation. The dual timelines are beautifully woven together, showing how far we’ve come and how much work still needs to be done.

I found Jessa’s journey as a lawyer inspiring. Her connection to Isobel Pérez, a young mother fighting for her child, was heartbreaking but hopeful. The discovery of medical malpractice at the detention center—and how it ties to her own family—added a shocking and personal twist.

Carrie Buck’s story in 1927 was equally gripping. It was heartbreaking to read about her struggles as a ward of the state and her role in a major legal battle tied to the eugenics movement. Her life highlights a dark and often overlooked part of history.

The book does an excellent job tackling important issues like women’s rights, incarceration, and societal expectations. It’s a reminder that progress isn’t easy, but it’s always worth fighting for. The characters felt real, and their stories left a lasting impact on me. If you like books that blend history with contemporary issues, this one is a must-read.

An important story if ever I read one. In Counting Backwards, J. Friedland masterfully intertwines the deeply personal journey of a woman struggling with infertility with the broader, often harrowing histories of women who have faced medical malpractice in relation to their reproductive health. Sandwiched between these two narratives are countless stories—some real, some fictional—that speak to the trauma and injustice experienced by women who have been failed by a healthcare system that often dismisses or mistreats their bodies.

As I read, I found myself enraged—fuming over the ignorance, arrogance, and disregard for women's autonomy that Friedland so effectively exposes. I had to constantly remind myself to unclench my jaw, as the weight of these injustices built up with every turn of the page. What makes this book truly remarkable, though, is its ability to bring these emotions to life through complex, fully realized characters. Even the frustrating ones, whose actions sometimes make you want to scream, are so well-developed that you forget they aren't real people. They feel tangible, alive in their flaws, struggles, and moments of grace.

The pacing of the plot is also a triumph. It balances history and personal narrative seamlessly, offering moments of reflection on systemic issues while never losing the human heartbeat at the center of the story. Each chapter pulls you deeper into the lives of these women, weaving together their pain, strength, and resilience in a way that is impossible to ignore. This book doesn’t just tell a story—it demands to be heard. It is a powerful exploration of gender, power, and the fight for bodily autonomy that feels as urgent as ever.

.there are some stories that you know have potencial and make sense on paper , however, it was not the right place nor the right time for me to read this book. I can see that the pieces were there with a semi cear message and intention but my head never did connect with the textx. if i were to give you a summary of this book i would say that i cannot remember a thing about it besides that i felt bored and slightly offended.

This is my second novel by this author and her novels are one to read. I always learn something new. The cover of a pomegranate and the title grabbed by attention and after reading the story I knew what exactly the over conveyed. The publisher nailed the cover.

This novel takes us on a journey in 1927 was we follow Carrie Buck who is denied medical rights and the injustices that are done to her and countless women.

The other timeline is in 2022, as Jessa is a lawyer taking on a medical malpractice case while struggling with her own fertility issues.

See how these timelines connect. These two women and their resilience, and their tenacity as they struggle to find out their strength was remarkable.

A heart-wrenching novel on a tough subject.

This novel and their stories will stay with me a long time.

i gravitated toward this one because of the cover, it's reminiscent of "ripe" by sarah rose etter, so it was an immediate tell that this book would have layers. from feeling heartbreak and sympathy to anger, it's just an unreal storytelling adventure that everyone should experience.

I had the pleasuree of reading this book before release. The story follwos two different women. One in the 1920's and one in present day. The way their stories weave together to create a compelling narrative is a masterclass. It is never confusing switching persepectives and as one woman's story progresses, the other womans story moves right along beside it. Friedlan's writing, while at times a bit repetetive, was clear and easy to follow. The history this book draws from as inspiration is so important to know and understand for every single woman. I am very excited for others to read this book and I am excited for this narrative to be published!