The Auction

Absolutely gritty and real! In an age where a woman’s reproductive rights are under threat, this story tells what could happen, how the loss of one right can start a slippery slope to lose much more.

Can you imagine a world wherein pregnant women are not allowed to work? Where becoming pregnant requires that you marry the biological father?A world where you then give up your child to the AUCTION and are forced to purchase someone else’s offspring, and committing you to caring for that child ( no working for you ) until he or she turns 18?
That is the premise of this novel, and in light of the current Roe vWade debate by the SCOTUS…it could not arrive at a better time.
Although the actions in this book are extreme , it gave me thought. If the government outlaws abortion, how will that change things in America? Obviously this would lead to an increase in unplanned pregnancies and presumably an increase in the number of adaptable babies, but also the number of men paying child support….But what if next birth control is outlawed ( some states are trying to pass that legislation) , just how far behind that would come something like the AUCTION? Seriously? Some employers are already exploring how to avoid having to cover birth control as the Roe v Wade issue is looking increasingly likely to be overturned.
If you overturn Roe v Wade and employers won’t cover birth control…how long will it take before an Auction type scenario occurs.
Scary stuff

It was the image on the cover that first drew my attention to this book. The image of the pregnant woman behind bars is certainly a compelling one. Then once I read the blurb, I knew that I absolutely had to read it.

Sadly, the society within the book is not all that unbelievable when you look around and read the news articles right now from different parts of the world. The society is run by men and of course this means that the world is angled and in favour of the male race. The government is made up of men too, the head of which is President Boyce. President Boyce’s ideal, that he pushes everyone to strive to is his vision of the “Halcyon Days” basically what the male government see as the “good old days.” His good old days consist of the women at home having babies, doing all the housework, with a pretty dress, face full of makeup and dinner ready on the table when the bread winner husband arrives home from work. The government and their vision of the Halcyon Days is an extremely discriminatory one. When it becomes apparent that the government needs more money for the running of the country, they begin to use babies as a source of income. A system is created where families “give a baby, and, take a baby” When pregnant women have their children, they leave their baby at the hospital. Most of the time they don’t even see or hold their own baby. This procedure is referred to as “giving a baby.” Later the babies are put up for auction. This is the other part of the procedure “taking a child.” There is a set minimum bid amount, that all babies make. If the parents that give a child are poor, they are given a loan, a “Family Development Loan” which is “offered” or rather “given” by the Office Of Reproductive Oversight. This loan is for an 18 year term which is free of interest for just the first 6 months. If the baby you give up is sold for over $35,000 the parents receive 2% of that amount.

Women are really not allowed to work unless they meet very specific criteria, which are, that they have completed the menopause, are sterile or carry a severe genetic disorder which would mean the baby would be a burden of the health & welfare and cost the government money. In other words, they cannot have any/any more babies! There are only a few jobs women are permitted to do and those are not influential positions. Women are not allowed to own a business at all. Even when women are “conforming” and are pregnant they have to keep up certain conditions and have regular checks whilst pregnant. If the government think the women is in contempt of any rules and/or is not caring for her unborn baby, the woman will have to go to a Home for Pregnant Women or as they are referred to by the normal population as “pregnancy prison.” Women also have to marry the biological father of their baby, or if they are not available, a male member of the biological father’s family. There are no excuses for not marrying the biological father of your baby. Even the word “Rape” is literally outlawed. President Boyce and his government simply do not recognise rape, there is no such thing, it is the fault of the women, she led the man on past his point of control, so it is all her own fault! The government is also very prejudiced against any other sort of disability on one level, such as those disabled have to prove they can live independent lives to be allowed to get married. If they cannot prove this then they must remain with their parents until their parents die and then they are put in an institution and are not allowed to marry or procreate. Yet when it comes to the auction and the whole “giving a child and taking a child” all parents are informed is that all children are lovable, that there is no such thing as “maternal instinct” women can and will love which ever baby they buy and bring home form the auction. Those who have access to plenty of money can afford to purchase not only a fit & healthy child but one that has certain genetic markers they find appealing too. Those with little money have to buy the less healthy, perhaps disabled babies that are left until last that no one else wants. They then have to care for that child for the rest of their life and that of the child. The government also stresses that there is no such thing as maternal instinct, so parents should accept whichever child they purchase at the auction and love and care for it as much as if it were the baby they created.

The government has been run a long time by President Boyce, others have tried to topple him and all have failed but there is a new candidate now, a woman called Wilma Harding the head of the Traditionalist party.

The book gives some background of the very different main female characters of, Jane, Angelica, Millie, Wendy. Soon they all have one thing in common, for different reasons, they are all sent to “pregnancy prison.” The book reveals their different stories of becoming pregnant, Millie who is blind and very much in love with her husband, Jason, and they have been trying for years to have a baby. Wendy a young teen who hasn’t even finished school who was in bed one night and a man broke into her home, through her bedroom window and raped her, she became pregnant and had to marry the biological father of her baby. Each women had a different tale. They each followed a different path, to how they ended up being pregnant. The women in the McKee Home For Pregnant Women have restricted access to the telephone and also limited visiting hours for their partners or loved ones to come and see them. None of the women are happy to be in the home except Wendy who is relieved to be away from her “psycho husband” as she refers to him. Angelica has a boyfriend, Angus who happens to be a top lawyer, Jane’s husband, Dave, is a computer whizz, Millie’s visitor is neighbour Beverley, and these are the only contacts the women have with the outside world. Angus, Dave and Beverley put their heads together initially just to get the women out of “pregnancy prison” and then set their sights even bigger, they want to bring the whole system of “The Auction” down.

I could honestly go on and on telling you even more about the book and I probably seem like I have revealed a lot already but there is so much more to the book too. The intricacies of each womans background, how they became pregnant, how they ended up in pregnancy prison, what they want from their future etc. Then of course there are secondary characters and their stories too. The world building is brilliantly done, it is so believable, and so skewed against women, you end up hating President Boyce as much as Jane, Millie, Angelica & Wendy do! There is still quite a bit of humour in the book, such as the description of the director of the pregnancy prison, Candy and her hair that literally has you visualising this ditzy, petty, candy floss haired women who thinks she is superior to these women. As well as the women’s stories being told there are “Flash News Brief” pages between the chapters up dating you on what is happening within the world, outside of the pregnancy prison.

My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were Oh Wow! How very eerily believable with how our world is currently seeming to go backwards on women’s rights!

Summing up I loved this book, and it was quite funny that I was watching Handmaids Tale which also has the theme of men being in charge, and women being oppressed as well as similar themes. There was just one thing missing for me at the end, maybe a bit of a loose end, which obviously I cannot really go into, but I will just say it was regarding the character called Wendy, apart from that it was a really great read! I will certainly be keeping my eyes open for other books by this author.

A fantastic read that is real and raw and shows how terrifying society could become. I really enjoyed it and couldn't put it down.

Uhmmm this was a great read with a really difficult theme to swallow, basically women do not have rights, rape doesn’t exist, even other women are biased in thinking that rape doesn’t exist, and women are forced to get married to the father of the baby, also women cant work before the child is 18 years old, so there’s no real need for women to study and for each baby you need to pay at least 5000 dollars, and to make things worse, couples need to bring a baby to the auction but they don’t leave with their baby, yeah everything feels wrong with the auction, worse even is that a man that has lost his wife he is not allowed to raise his son/daughter because only a couple is allowed that… do you feel horrified already?

This book follows the lives of 4 of these women and the men in their lives, and believe me this book will shook you, you’ll be sad, you’ll feel hope and want them to be happy, you’ll hate some characters with passion, and others you just wish you could meet them in real life, and in the end you’ll be left with the feeling that if even people that live in such a dystopic world could still fight, then there’s still hope for us.

I highly recommend this book, even if it is hard for you to read, read it, take your time, is worth the ride.

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Such a different type of book and I found myself pleasantly surprised. While this book clearly won’t be for everyone, I loved how it sets itself apart from other books. Four different women, in 4 different situations, under the control of a government who limits any power and control that women have. While I was angry that the women in this story had been so accepting of things for so long, it also made me think about the holocost and what 1 man with crazy ideas and a whole host of followers can do, but also that one voice can gather strength over the wind and a big enough gust can be the change people don’t always recognize they need.

Another dystopian novel that could sadly come true. This book grabbed me and didn't let go until the last page.

What a ride! This dystopian novel will have you questioning the future of humanity. I could not put this book down. And I can honestly say that I have not read anything like this before.

The Auction takes place in the United States, where the country is trying to convert back to the Halycon days. During this time, women are wanted for reproduction purposes. Birth control is illegal and once a woman is pregnant, she must quit her job and raise her child. Also, if she isn’t already, she has to marry the father (after a paternity test to confirm). She must also cook, clean, and be ready to care for her spouse when he returns home from work.

That’s not the worst part. Once the child is born, they are placed up for auction, and the highest bidder takes the prize. So even if you love your spouse and create a child together, you have to put them in the auction and hope you can afford to purchase your own baby.

WOW!! This book had me hooked from the start. This is a book that everyone should read. It may be a work of fiction but it shows the possibility of where things can progress to if we let it.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion

Love The Handmaid's Tale? This is a great standalone novel for you!!

I'm not much for dystopian literature usually - but The Auction was so well written!! And you get to see the women reclaim their lives/power/faith in humanity I suppose? By the end of this book, I felt like I learned a lot about myself and how I would handle things!

An introspective read is always great to include amidst the romance and fantasy!

This book is amazing and very on-point for the time period we are living in. I've already bought a copy of it for my classroom and I plan to spread word of this book far and wide. Well done!

The future of America is not flying cars and robots at every corner. Nope. Instead, it's the Auction - the government's way of taxing Americans and getting more money. President Boyce (basically a dictator) wants America to go back to the "Halycon Days" or the 1950s and 1960s. In those wonderful days, the men worked and the woman stayed home and cooked, cleaned, and cared for the children - all while wearing heels, dresses, and not a hair out of place. According to President Boyce and his laws, if a woman gets pregnant, she must marry the biological father whether or not she knows him. Certain sports are too dangerous for women to play and women can't travel because it all puts too much stress on the woman's body. This book follows four women who live completely different lives but end up in the same pregnancy prison, become friends and begin to question everything they know.

This book really surprised me. I wasn't expecting to find it so interesting and to like all of the characters (normally one always ends up annoying me) but I felt like I knew them all. Elci North does a great job at describing the characters, their backstories, and what's happening in future America. There were some funny spots that I even laughed at. However, it does slow in the middle of the book and some conversations seem repetitive but it definitely picks back up and finishes strong.

Thank you, NetGalley and Independent Book Publishers Association for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley And publisher for this incredible ARC!!

This was a chilling and compelling read. My feelings condensed into a single thought. I hope to God this doesn't happen because I know for a fact it ain't that easy. It is as if Elci North reached into my nightmares and all my anxiety about the world today and pulled out this book. It was riveting, and I was unable to sleep until it was finished.

It is in need of a stern and strong handed editor, some of the choices that the characters made were unnecessary and silly (Angelina) and if I heard about Millie's super schnoz one more time...but, ultimately this was a decent, thrilling book with a satisfying ending.

TW: r@pe of ALL KINDS

This was a really cool concept! Loved the plot, loved the whole idea of it and had 1984 dystopian vibes. I found one of the characters a bit annoying but other than that I couldn't fault it. Really enjoyable read and I'm dying to know who the author is!

Fans of The Handmaid's Tale and Vox this one's for you! Creative view of a future manipulated and distorted to the advantage of the rich, and the few that will risk it all to uncover the truth! No spoilers here, a page turning and engaging story that will have you hooked.

This was a unique and interesting read. It’s set in dystopia and depicts a future America where women are subjugated by the government Office of Reproductive Oversight, which controls every aspect of a pregnant woman's life...

I finished this book yesterday and I have been trying to come up with the words to describe and review it, and after 24-hours the main word that comes to mind is still wow.

Elci North's The Auction, takes us approximately 150 years into the future of the United States. It is an America that most would not recognize, but also a future that is so terrifyingly possible. American citizen's have been stripped of their rights, women more than men. The US constitution has been abolished as has the ADA. The US Government controls the media, access to the internet requires special permissions and is highly monitored. Women are only allowed to work approved jobs, if they become pregnant it is illegal for them to work. Birth control is illegal, rape is a myth and is always the woman's fault for enticing the man beyond his control. When a woman becomes pregnant, she must marry the man you got her pregnant regardless of how she got pregnant, and she must remain married to him until the child turns 18 or in the case that child get pregnant and marries. If all of that was not bad enough, the American people have been brainwashed into believing in The Auction. Babies are taken from the birth mothers immediately, before they can see them or hear them cry. Once a month The Auction is held. The babies have undergone genetic testing for personality, predisposition of certain traits, intelligence, defects, and disabilities. The wealthy are able to buy designer babies, while the poor get what is left. The minimum bid at auction is $5k and if a couple cannot afford that, they most take out a family loan and pay it back at about 3-4x the amount over 18 years. If a woman breaks the law while pregnant, she goes to pregnancy prison to be monitored and make sure that the baby is brought safely into the world.

It was at that 16% mark that I started recommending this book in all of my reading groups. The four main characters are written and developed so well. Their stories are all so different, yet the same because they are all pregnant women in this misogynistic society. Prior to the 16% mark, I felt like this book was important. It was not one of those books that would fill you with warm fuzzies, or cause you to laugh for hours. It will not keep you on the edge of your eat waiting for the next twist. It is not an epic adventure to go on. It is one that will stick with you. I have put out a call to any and all of my reader friends crossing my fingers that some will read this and discuss it with me.

To say I love this book or that this is a good book sounds terrible. The material is hard. It is dark. There are MANY trigger/content warnings (readers sensitive to certain content should be cautious when picking this one up). However, I would be lying if I did not say that this may be one of the most important reads I have read. Elci North beautifully told this story and I cannot thank her enough for that, but man if she is not going to keep me up wondering who she is and what her normal genre books are, wondering if I have read them and experienced her voice before.

What a book to read during the climate that we live in today. Tha k you net galley for a review copy of this book. I would definitely recommend it to fans of books like the Handmaids Tale. Such a wonderful read.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book really surprised me. I was immediately drawn in by the cover, a pregnant woman behind bars. I love the Handmaid’s Tale and dystopian books and this did not disappoint. It was sad, emotional, dark, but still hopeful and funny at times. I fell in love with all the characters and the bond they created. The only semi-negative thing I can say is that I felt it could have been a tiny bit shorter, and problems almost felt *too* easily solved, but that did not really take away from the story for me. If you love dystopian books, The Handmaid’s Tale, or are just interested in reading about a future United States that has heightened control over women and their babies… then this book is for you.

I would give this book 4.5 stars.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: suicide, rape

Thank you to NetGalley, Elci North and the publisher for the copy of The Auction. The Auction was a beautifully written commentary on the necessity of a woman's right to lead and be heard. The characters were all written in a way that gave them distinct view points on the importance of female empowerment but done in a way that, when viewed together, gave a clear picture female struggles in society. Furthermore, the most interesting aspects of the book were the subtle nods to American exceptionalism and the dangers of arrogance on the world stage. The Auction is a perfect blend of the social and political ideas that show revolution is sometimes the only way to right an institutional wrong. I would highly recommend for anyone that is a fan of The Handmaid's Tale or dystopian novels.

This took me a while to get through. It was a heavy read, especially with what is happening in the US with women’s reproductive rights.
The story takes place in future US where women basically have no rights. Contraceptives are illegal, rape doesn’t exist, women are required to marry the father of their unborn child, and cannot work until child turns 18. Also, you don’t get to take home the child you birth. You give up the child and have to purchase a different one at “the auction.”
The story is told through the POV of 4 complete different women who end up befriending each other when they are sent to a pregnancy prison for breaking insane laws. Jane is sent to prison for continuing to work, Millie for being blind and having a husband in rehab after being in an accident, Angelica for providing urine that is not hers at an OB appt, and Wendy a 15yr old who was on the run from her abusive rapist husband who was imprisoned for hitting a Dr. While in the prison the women team up and work to tear down the system.

The story was unique and delightful. If you love the handmaid's tale, then I will recommend this to you. I love the feeling of like reading a season of a series. The characters' backstories are well-written. The story is more character-driven which I liked. The characters are so natural and relatable. Their blossomed friendship made it more compelling to read. The theme of women's empowerment makes this worthwhile your time.

Although some plots are impossible to happen realistically, it's enjoyable and entertaining.

I'm thankful to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is an interesting book to read after what has transpired this past week. Hitting a little close to real life. This story is scary to think about and will give the reader thought provoking topics to become aware of. The story brings together four different women, with four different stories and a glimpse of their lives while in a pregnancy prison. Each of these women are unable to decide their own fate, desires or outcomes they aspire to. The most basic rights have been stripped away from their lives. The reader could feel all their emotions, pain, angst and frustration that each of the characters are experiencing. What happens when four determined women are put together in a prison? I read as fast as I could to the ending because I had to see the outcome of this story. This is a story worth reading.

Would you consider this a dystopian novel if we are actually living some of the content of this story in the great land of the United States?

The world that the author created and the characters were very real and I do feel like this is the 'Merica that we the people have created.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Elci North, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles. This book released on February 4, 2022.

My stomach is aching and churning. 🤢
Days after Roe Vs. wade is overturned, I am struggling through this book that makes for a scary world of the lack civil rights for both genders.

In a world where Halcyon Days of the 50s are admired, the laws of government take EVERYthing away from women. Getting pregnant is no longer a part of life, for women it bears a punishment and comes at a cost. Even if you have a baby, you don’t even get to keep your own without the right amount of money. I clenched my teeth through the whole book. My stomach revolted as I know it’s fiction, but man how scary a world like this would be.

Books like The Auction or A School For Good Mothers are once again a display of Conversations about women that are happening without women being equally present and valued at the table.

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook of The Auction by Elci North

Loved loved loved loved! I was in desperate need for a really great dystopian and The Auction did not disappoint! In case you can't tell from my first sentence, I loved everything about this book. The characters were so relatable and I got behind each one of them right from the beginning. It was a little daunting to realise there were 4 different women all telling a different story but they were actually really easy to identify and keep separate. This is a book that makes my face light up when I rave about it to people, even though my heart did break at one point and the ending wasn't what I was desperately hoping for (can't say more as it would be a spoiler). I can't recommend this book enough, especially to those who loved The Handmaid's Tale

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
There are some books that when read, stay with you for a long time, and this is one of them for me, especially because of today’s current climate in women’s rights. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, the storyline and plot are beautiful, yes, I do think that it could be improved with better dialogue and the characters sometimes fall a little flat, but I still would put this book on my best reads of 2022.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an eARC for my honest review.

If you love dystopian books that leave you wondering what if… this is it! It is a long, heavy read especially considering the current world events. The writing is great and the characters are relatable.

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this absolutely gripping book. The writing was fantastic and the plot was so addictive - I read this book in less than a day. The characters were very lovable and the diversity was also very well done. Millie, one of the protagonists, is blind and the book doesn’t focus on how it limits her but instead says how it helps her and how she isn’t held back by it. As a massive fan of A Handmaid’s Tale, this book was perfect.

This book was so well written that it made me the reader feel such anger and disgust. Funnily (and scarily) enough this has actually become incredibly relevant with Roe V Wade being overturned in the US and the government taking away women’s right to choose. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to dystopian lovers, feminists and anyone else. However, something I will say is read the trigger warnings for this book as it does mention rape a lot, ableism, sexual assault, violence, blood, pregnancy, misogyny & sexism, suicide, substance use and many others.

TW:// https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/6ff69a09-9129-4a4c-ad07-59847a9f4955/content_warnings

This book was definitely worth the read. As a woman's right activist, this book has many important themes that should be discussed and addressed especially during these times. I absolutely love the dystopian style and how real these issues were portrayed.

If you liked the handmaid's tale you'll love this. The representation and depth of the characters in this book is amazing

Much like The Handmaid's Tale, this is clearly inspired by recent events in the USA about erasing the rights of women to abortion. It tells of a dystopian society where women are forced to give up their babies at birth, due to the poor decisions of the men in power. It follows several couples who decide to fight back against the government. An enjoyable read, made all the more prescient by the USA's recent decision on Roe vs Wade.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.

Babies as a source of income..... Interesting concept.... Women being stripped of basic rights to get that income up. This book seemed surreal to me at the time that I was reading it. Very interesting read. Author real paints the picture of what life could be like.

Wow. If you’re looking for a book that hits a little too close to home, but still with an element of “what if,” this is the one I’ll be recommending from here on out. With elements of the Handmaid’s Tale and 1984, The Auction is a deeply thought-provoking novel with dark themes and difficult stories. PLEASE check your content warnings before reading this book, as some themes may be triggering to readers.

Set approximately 150 years into the future of the United States, the government has lost control of its finances, and in a frantic attempt to regain monetary power, it introduces the Auction. This system makes birth control illegal, abortion impossible, and punishments severe. Women become the ultimate baby incubators. Pregnant women are forced to marry the father of their child, regardless of how old they are or in cases of rape. This is the situation of 15-year-old Wendy, one of the main protagonists.

> “He raped me.”
Ralph leaned forward and gazed into her eyes. “Then you should be arrested. Rape is an antique concept that multiple research studies debunked seventy-three years ago. Nonconsensual sex does not exist. The law recognizes that in all cases of sexual intercourse, the woman bears the responsibility of initiating the act by enticing a man to engage in the activity, either through words, actions, dress, demeanor, behavior, or proximity. Female behavior that pushes a man beyond his capacity to control himself makes him the victim, not a criminal.” (65)
>

> When I was in school, I believed what the teachers taught us. ‘It’s the woman’s fault in all cases.’ Until it happened to me. I did nothing to lure this guy. I didn’t entice anyone. If he stole my purse, it would have been a crime. But raping me was my fault. (200)
>

Women are blamed for all sexual encounters, and are forced to pay the ultimate price for everything. Sometimes, the women *wanted* a child, as is the case of Millie, another one of the main protagonists. Millie and her husband have wanted a baby for 13 years, but she still ends up in the “pregnancy prisons” when her husband is in a severe car accident. Why? The government believes that disabled women (Millie is blind) have no capabilities to care for themselves, and even so, perpetuates the idea that women, even able-bodied women, are far inferior to men.

When babies are born, they’re torn from their mothers and put into the Auction, where couples are forced to bid at a minimum of $5,000 for a newborn baby. After becoming pregnant, women are forced to stop working until their last child turns 18, creating a circular system in which women are imprisoned. Even now, in cases of pregnancy, women in lower socioeconomic brackets and members of minority groups face a severe disadvantage to receiving healthcare, funding, and support. But the Auction takes this to an extreme.

I will say that at times, the writing style felt a bit off. There were certain chapters where the author’s voice didn’t feel as realistic as the rest of the book, but it didn’t distract enough from the overall story to be frustrating to read. This was a five-star read, through and through. But saying this was a good book? It’s difficult. This book is *dark*. It is hard. The material is rough. But it’s important. And important things are so very rarely easy.

Wow! This book was quite the ride. I absolutely loved the world building and found the ideas surrounding the Auction amazing yet chilling at the same time. Sometimes art imitates life a little too closely! While I felt like the writing was lacking at times, the plot more than made up for it. Read this, read The Change and then let's band together to take down the patriarchy!