Thank you to both Melissa Kantor and Netgalley for the gifted audiobook (subsequent to release) in exchange for an honest review by me.

Wow. This story was short but such an important listen for me. I have always supported a person’s right to an abortion and this book deepened my compassion for this subject in a way I did not think was possible. The emotions were incredibly intense and I felt so much pain for the main character, Grace, throughout the entirety of the story. This book may not go into great “detail” about the ins and outs and legalities of an abortion (although there were data, statistics, and information given at certain points), but rather gives back a name and power to the many people who choose (and sometimes don’t choose) to obtain an abortion. People who get abortions are often villainized in the media and in real life to the point where many forget that these individuals are real living people with dreams, hopes, passions, and a future ahead of them. Additionally, this books delves into the importance of friendship in the time of dire circumstances. This book was an emotional and important read that I recommend to everyone.

Let me start by thanking NetGalley and the author for gifting me the ALC of this book.

"Biology Lessons" is a deeply moving young adult novel that hits home, especially in today's climate regarding reproductive rights. The author, Melissa Kantor, tackles the intense emotions of being pregnant in a state with strict anti-abortion laws, especially after the recent overturn of Roe v. Wade. The story follows high school senior Grace Williams, who has big dreams of studying biology at Barnard. Things take a turn when she gets pregnant after a fling with Jack, the school's star baseball player. With abortion illegal and her parents' expectations weighing her down, Grace feels her plans slipping away.

What stands out in this book is the portrayal of strong friendship and solidarity as Grace turns to her best friends, Addie and Sebastian, for support. They face the serious risks posed by the laws around them while trying to figure out a way to help her. The dynamic between the characters brings forth the power of female friendship and the fight for bodily autonomy in a world that feels increasingly restrictive. This heartfelt narrative shines a light on real issues and is sure to resonate with readers, especially young women everywhere.

Grace has plans for her future. Big plans! But Grace ends up pregnant unexpectedly while in highschool. Her family is strict pro-life, and she knows they would give her no options but to have the baby, raise the baby, and for her to be stuck in her small town life forever, instead of following her dreams.

Her friends try to help her find options. She ends up in what she thought was an abortion clinic, but turns out to be a faith-based pregnancy center pressuring their anti-abortion beliefs on her.

As her friends try and help her, they are having to be extremely careful of any internet searches, since their state bans abortions and prosecutes those who help one get an abortion. Grace ends up severely depressed and ponders how dying would be better than this new reality, and her lack of options.

This story is poignant and emotional. It highlights the complexities and heartbreak that comes as a result of anti abortion rules in the US. Important read.

Grace Williams has her entire life ahead of her, but one choice could upend everything. Biology Lessons is both timely and poignant, resonating deeply with the challenges teenagers confront when faced with crucial decisions about their bodies. Kantor skillfully unravels the complexities of unwanted pregnancy, shedding light on the emotional turmoil of navigating these issues during high school. Grace emerges as a relatable and multifaceted protagonist, yet she sometimes feels ensnared by stereotypes. Kantor also courageously questions whether a single decision should dictate the course of a person's life. Overall, it's a strikingly realistic exploration of a pressing issue, even though it occasionally feels a bit distant.

Not only was Biology Lessons a great read but it's also an important read. It addresses some devastating issues in America surrounding abortion rights and is particularly poignant right now. My heart really went out to Grace as she went through her struggles to make her decision and to find the right help. And let's be honest here, Grace's experiences were probably quite mild compared to what some women/girls go through. Grace had people she could turn to, people who would help. Imagine trying to navigate this nightmare alone.
I think Biology Lessons is a good opener to some tough discussions for teenage girls and is written in a relatable way with characters who are likeable.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reproductive rights and reproductive justice, but especially young girls / teens. I imagine that this will be a controversial book and it really shouldn't! In no way should we be debating whether females should have bodily autonomy, it should be a given!

I live in Texas so this book felt incredibly high stakes to me. I've never been pregnant but I so deeply felt Grace's hopelessness and despair when she felt all of her options were impossibilities. Living in this state feels exactly like hopelessness and despair and unlike Grace, many women and girls don't get happy endings and bright futures.

‘Biology Lessons’ is simply a heartbreaking YA novel about a young girl from Texas’ attempts and tribulations trying to get an abortion. The novel was really eye opening for me, I’ve always understood the consequences of roe v wade but being from a place that supports abortion throughout the country. Hearing this story in so much detail was really upsetting. The book was important and well-researched. A good lesson for anyone.

The narrator did a great job of recreating the voice of a teen girl and her ability to reflect the emotions of the narrator was really talented. I enjoyed the pacing of the audiobook.

4 star
Thanks to #netgalley for this ARC.

The simplicity of this book surprised me. The characters felt super authentic in their expression of their emotions especially with Grace's resolve. I've read a few books with pro-choice as a central theme but nothing as impactful as this one. Kantor only shows the brutal truth with her powerful writing that I found to be very engaging. Being extremely short and to the point I think this book reads more like non-fiction than a novel.

There's no fabrication whatsoever. By that, I mean there are no unnecessary subplots or characters, every single sentence in this book serves a purpose. From the familial background to every little scene, we see the gravity of the situation as it is, and it is very real. All of this made it very easy for me as a reader to empathize with the main character and root for her. But again, this read more like a real account to me than fictional writing so if that style of writing isn't what you're expecting, you may not enjoy it.

I'm someone with no information on abortions around me so unless I actively search for it myself, I barely know anything. Considering that, I did feel the book could have been more extensive in its descriptions and explanations of various things that were just mentioned like what Roe V. Wade is. This book probably targets an American audience, but I think the message should reach the world and more context would make that much easier to understand.

With comments on the autonomy of the fetus and debates about the definition of an embryo/fetus circulating around, this book does a great job with some impactful pieces of dialogue coming from the main character. It fully addresses the guilt, dilemma, and betrayal she feels with so much pressure around her. There are some heavy instances quoted along with depictions of what pro-life protestors can be like.

As an audiobook, this piece of writing was very easy to consume, and I'd highly recommend listening to the audio version. While the storytelling itself is short, a good chunk towards the end of the book is dedicated to interviews with various reproductive right activists that I found to be very insightful. I can't recommend this book enough and truly think everyone should read it.

I got this as an audio arc on Netgalley and it has since come out. The narrating was amazing and the story was absolutely impressive. Books about the impact of abortion bans are so needed right now.

Biology Lessons is a powerful and deeply moving story that resonated with me on a profound level. Kantor's portrayal of Grace and Addie's dynamic friendship is truly exceptional, and I felt completely immersed in their world. The narrative voice is compelling, and I experienced a full spectrum of emotions alongside Grace as she navigated her challenging circumstances. Her plight is one that unfortunately mirrors the experiences of many women, and Kantor handles the subject matter with sensitivity and grace.

This is the kind of book that everyone should read. It tackles realistic and relatable situations within a fictional setting, making the story both engaging and thought-provoking. Biology Lessons doesn't shy away from difficult topics, but it explores them with honesty and empathy, leaving a lasting impact on the reader.

I received this audiobook from Brilliance Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this audiobook; it was not only topical and significant relating to the abortion laws in America but the story itself was well thought out and intriguing. I found myself so excited when I had a moment to put it on!

The story focuses on the protagonist Grace, who is a STEM student who is excited about her future that she has all mapped out. She is asked to tutor her peer named Jack and soon finds herself in a sexual relationship with him. However, once the relationship ends, Grace is left with a major situation that she has to deal with - she is pregnant! As a young lady Grace had to go through so much, with the fear of putting those she loves in danger due to the antiabortion laws in Texas - all this because she lacked a choice. With her friends Addie and Sebastian, Grace does everything she can to regain control, autonomy and the future she so desperately wants.

This book highlighted themes of abortion, specifically the pro-abortion vs anti-abortion debates, friendship, relationships, feminism and also touches upon other social issues like institutional racism . It was such a thought-provoking book that made me feel a wide range of emotions. When I kept remembering that although this book is a work of fiction, it also highlights the REAL varying abortion laws in America, the emotion I felt the most strongly was infuriation.

The narrator Brittany Pressley did an incredible job and I believe that it was also her amazing narration that kept me so enthralled by the story.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this!

Drop everything and give this to the teenaged boy in your life.

Yes, this is a tale centred around a teenaged girl who opts for an abortion after Roe v. Wade's been struck down. Yes, we access her POV, intimately. Yes, it's not authentic; this isn't an "own voices piece." But I think this is one of the rare age-appropriate stories about "modern" abortion in the States that might just speak to the ones who really need to hear it ... the privileged, ignorant young men who will grow up to either reify the status quo or disrupt it.

Anyone who is anti-choice should read this, as well. Especially the end notes. As several video interviews have shown, the people in charge of making and breaking the law and more importantly feeding your ideological spectrum are ignorant, and a lot of them hate women and genderqueer folk who can get pregnant. Pause and take a moment to reflect. Do your research. Where did you get your ideas from? Can you find the source, or are you relying on what others (/algorithms) have told you? What do you really know? And if you're someone who's basing everything off of your "beliefs" and "values" rather than empirical evidence, then tell us this: why should anyone adopt your "beliefs" and "values" over their own? No matter the cost, and no matter that it has no impact on you personally? Go deeper. What is the result of your position? Who benefits from you having this position? Who suffers? Is it really about "protecting life"?

Here's a little primer to get the unacquainted started: a scientist breaks down abortion myths.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2015/aug/12/five-main-anti-abortion-arguments-examined

As for the story, this wasn't a thrilling read for me, but I think younger audiences will like it. I was disappointed that the author only references girls and women in the end notes, and I hope she reflects on why and what this says about the power she's exerting in terms of the silencing she herself is participating in. The narration by Brittany Pressley was excellent and may even help tap into the listener's sympathies more than the text itself, I dare say.

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this audiobook, in return for an honest review.

First I should probably say that I am not the target audience for this book. I’m in my mid-twenties and I like in the UK - where I am (apparently) extremely lucky to have access to abortions and pre-/post-natal care. But even so, this book impacted me so much.

We follow Grace as she navigates her life after finding out she’s pregnant. She lives in the state of Texas where abortion has been made completely illegal, leaving her with very little choice of what to do.

I struggle to believe that this isn’t a dystopian, that this is actually a snapshot of what life can be like living in America, the supposed ‘land of the free’. I can’t believe there are places that won’t allow abortions for any reason, not that anyone should need a reason to not go ahead with a pregnancy if they don’t want to. What someone wants to do with their body shouldn’t be a concern to anyone else (as is greatly explained in the interviews at the very end).

I loved Grace’s character and seeing how she dealt with this possibly life-changing decision. Her friendship with Addie was amazing, and seeing them work everything out together was heartwarming.

One thing I find difficult to understand is Grace’s love for Texas. State pride is such an American thing and I don’t understand how she can still want a Texas flag with her when she goes to college. I know there’s further meaning behind it concerning her friends, but why should she love the state just because she’s from there and that’s where her friends and family are? All of her problems stem from the fact that her state thinks they can dictate women’s bodily autonomy. I don’t know - it was just a weird one for me.

This is a must read for teenagers today, I think it would open their eyes to things they probably don’t know much about, and show them that topics like abortion don’t have to be taboo.

4.5/5
A great story about female friendship. It felt dystopian like but felt even more sad when you realize this is the reality for a lot of people.