All You Have to Do is Call by Kerri Maher – 416 pages
ARC from Berkley and Netgalley for an honest review
Book Blurb:
The best-known secret in the city, Jane is a women’s health organization composed entirely of women helping women, freeing them from the expectations of society and family. Veronica, Jane’s founder, prides herself on the services she has provided to thousands of women, yet the price of others’ freedom is that she leads a double life–when she’s not at Jane, Veronica plays the role of a conventional housewife–which becomes even more difficult during her own high-risk pregnancy. Two more women in Veronica’s neighborhood are grappling with similar disconnects. Margaret, a young professor at the University of Chicago, secretly volunteers at Jane as she falls in love with a man whose attitude toward his ex-wife increasingly disturbs her. Patty, who’s long been content as a devoted wife and mother, has begun to sense that something essential is missing from her life. When her runaway younger sister Eliza shows up unexpectedly, Patty is forced to come to terms with what it really means to love and support a sister.
My Review: 4 stars
All You Have to Do is Call by Kerri Maher came out with impeccable, yet unplanned timing, shortly after the Roe v. Wade verdict was overturned. That, coupled with the movie Call Jane that featured Elizabeth Banks, Kate Mara and Sigourney Weaver, was an added bonus for timeliness.
As a transplant to Chicago many, many moons ago, there is much Chicago history I don’t know about. Until I read this I had absolutely no clue about the Jane Collective and the services that they provided for safe, illegal abortions. This was the biggest secret that only people in need knew about.
Through strong character development this story came to life. I found the pacing of the story to be on point and was eager to learn more about the Janes after I had finished. That is always the sign of a good book. The sisterhood that was created by both the providers of the abortions as well as the patients was touching and often emotional.
I think book clubs will have a lot to discuss after reading this and there are documentaries to watch that further explain their mission and the bravery that these women showed every day that they came to work at the Janes.
Quotes I liked:
The patriarchy only wins when women stop listening to themselves.”
“It was so easy to default to what was in front of you, instead of what you had to invent.”
“I would never want you to be less than you are.”
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