Artists’ credits: Cover design by Dana Tanamachi. Author photo by Meghan Paddock Farrell.
ADVANCE PRAISE
“This touching, beautifully written work will help many people who have endured loss or complicated paths to parenthood. They are sure to find experiences that resonate with them.”
– Library Journal
“In this moving debut, physician Thompson weaves an account of her complicated path to becoming a mother with recollections from colleagues, friends, and patients on their own experiences with parenthood…. The varied selections prove there’s no single, ‘normal’ route to motherhood.”
-PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“Women who are struggling . . . may find solace in knowing they're hardly alone. . . . Even the stories without fairy-tale endings should make women feel less solitary.”
- BOOKLIST
“Held Together maps the many experiences of mothering through Thompson’s own story, interwoven with the narratives of other mothers…. Choosing this braided structure instead of presenting her story as a standalone essay in a collection is a powerful choice because it allows the book to become a chorus of women’s voices, emphasizing the healing and knowledge women can gain from one another by sharing their stories and the connection that forms from talking about personal experiences…. Held Together is a testament to the power of sharing stories to aid healing and provide comfort.”
— Hippocampus Magazine
“[A] deeply moving narrative that celebrates the resilience of women as they navigate the diverse and complex journeys of building and sustaining families…. Warm, inclusive, and profoundly inspiring, Held Together is an invitation to connect, reflect, and honor the many ways we define love, family, and motherhood.”