Kid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaos

I’m not a graphic novel person. However, a friend—an artist and health teacher—recommended this book to me and I decided to give it a shot. I have since bought copies for every friend who has asked for advice when trying to conceive. There are SO many things about pregnancy I never knew before actually getting pregnant, and this book introduces them in a way that is both educational and engaging. Truly, I loved it, and have read it multiple times!

I've read through it multiple times since I bought it and have purchased it as a gift for every new mom I know. The content exposes deep personal realities of conception and pregnancy going so far as to tell why she had miscarried, the surgery for that, and all details of the pregnancy. She then details the dreaded c-section. She gives her husband's inpu as well which you dont see alot of. The art quality is 10/10

I got this book, yesterday, when it came out. I sat down to read it, during work, and found it hard to put down, even though I knew it would all come out right in the end. What is the point of a story where we know the ending? Because the journey is the reward, not the destination. Do you read stories to find out the ending? If so, then you will be disappointed with this book, because this comes out two years after the birth of Pal, so not only do we know he was born, we also know that Lucy succeeded in getting pregnant. With this book, Lucy has given us the background, how she wanted to be a mother, and how society treats both those who want to be mothers, as well as those that are mothers. Society has done so much less research on the woman's body that many things that we think that the medical field should know, they don't. But this does not tell you why this is such a fantastic book. This is so well done, because this is Lucy's journey to motherhood, with all the humor, and real life slice of life that she has exhibited in all her other work, and does to this day. This is the story of how Lucy does become pregnant, and all the observations about how life is in that state. It is a story that so many mothers, who gave birth, know so well. And yet each story is different. If you enjoyed her books about growing up, this is about growing up. If you have enjoyed Lucy's books about food, food is mentioned. If you enjoyed her book about her marriage, this continues that story. And if you enjoy her current stories about life with Pal, then you will love finding out how he came to be.

I have never experienced pregnancy. But I bought this book because I'm a fan of Lucy Knisley. While I have never experienced motherhood, I'm the eldest of four and watched my mother go through it. Spoilers: Lucy talks about her experience of pre eclampsia. How much she had to put up with despite telling her doctor that she thought she had it before she gave birth. That part of the book really broke down what my mother went through. My own mother laughs it off and tells us that it was nothing, despite the fact that there was a probability she could have died. While my mother wasn't knowledgeable enough to diagnose herself or ask for a diagnosis, her pain was still ignored by her doctors, telling her that what she was experiencing was "normal". It wasn't. She was ignored until, at 7 months pregnant, she woke up in pool of blood. She was rushed to the hospital. The doctors weren't sure if it was coming from her or my little brother. Before she went through an emergency c-section, she was asked to sign papers on who would receive custody of my little brother should she pass. She refused to sign them. Fortunately, my mother and my brother are still alive today, almost 18 years later. Without Lucy's book, I don't think I would ever really understand what my mother went through. I feel closer to her now because I'm able to understand such a terrifying experience. Because to this day my mother doesn't want to worry us and laughs it all off. It really is a beautiful read. Thank you, Lucy, for letting us in on this chapter of your life. I'm sure a lot of us could either relate or just understand what our parents might've gone through.

This book arrived at 10:30am and I devoured it by 12:00pm. And wow. I haven’t been so moved by a graphic novel since Craig Thompson’s Habibi. This is not just your average pregnancy memoir. It is a powerful commentary on contraception, modern sexual education, miscarriages, women’s health, and the societal stigmas surrounding reproductive health. This makes it an important read regardless of gender and desire to be a parent. However! I would not read this if I was pregnant. Because her story in a particular shows the bleaker, darker sides of the pregnancy process. That decision has powerful purpose but is certainly not comforting. I appreciate her vulnerability and wisdom. This is a masterfully woven slice of life treasure that I will be visiting and referencing for the rest of my life.

After reading this book and some personal experiences of my own, I realized how little my public school sex education classes really taught me about planning for a family, reproductive biology, and contraceptives. The focus of these classes was always: "Sex = STDs + babies (a.k.a. 18 years of responsibility)". I feel like this book and the Mayo Clinic's guide to pregnancy book filled important gaps in my education. I think anyone would benefit from reading this book - man, woman, expecting, not expecting, kids, no kids, etc. I especially appreciated the parts where Lucy talked about her 2 miscarriages and how that affected her - physically, mentally, emotionally. Miscarriage is not something our culture talks about much, and maybe we should.

I have been a fan of Lucy's for years, but find that each book she releases is unfailing LUCY & I devour it immediately. This book was honest & lighthearted, gritty & sad, and overall just wonderful. Lucy Knisley doesn't stray away from difficult topics or emotions. Instead, she delivers her honest account of what it means to be pregnant and for the long and rocky journey many people have in doing so. I loved all the gross and strange details, the weird history of women's bodies and pregnancy myths, and the love that was woven throughout. Absolutely would recommend to anyone who likes books, comics, memoirs, real conversations about experiences, moms/dads/caregivers and the many of us that fall in between.

I can not tell you how good this book is. As the mom of a one y/o it makes you feel like you are both part of a global tribe of mothers and built to take on the largest challenge of your life. Artful, entertaining, heartbreaking, informative and intimate; Lucy invites you into the world of the modern mother without the common fake gloss of social media. I appreciate her expressiveness, candor and humor on a topic that can be hard to broach without alienating or igniting mom shame. Thank you Lucy for continuing to document your experience and let us whiteness your journey as a mother and artist.

While this was a little traumatic to read during my own 38th week of pregnancy, this was the only pregnancy book I enjoyed reading (and heck, I think it was more informative than most 'factual' books). I was constantly annoying my husband by calling him over to show him different funny moments we could both relate to and there were definitely some tears shed. I've always been a fan of Knisley and was happy to be able to be pregnancy buddies with her, even if only from the page. Looking forward to her next book!

This book is great. It strikes just the right balance between personal and informative, with alternating chapters covering her experience and pregnancy research. It also has many shifts in tone, ranging from tender to dramatic. The story is very well mapped-out, neatly book-ended, and engaging throughout. I had thought I would save it for later reading, but instead kept picking it back up to see what came next. I would definitely recommend giving this one a try if you are considering it.

I’m not a graphic novel person. However, a friend—an artist and health teacher—recommended this book to me and I decided to give it a shot. I have since bought copies for every friend who has asked for advice when trying to conceive. There are SO many things about pregnancy I never knew before actually getting pregnant, and this book introduces them in a way that is both educational and engaging. Truly, I loved it, and have read it multiple times!

I've read through it multiple times since I bought it and have purchased it as a gift for every new mom I know. The content exposes deep personal realities of conception and pregnancy going so far as to tell why she had miscarried, the surgery for that, and all details of the pregnancy. She then details the dreaded c-section. She gives her husband's inpu as well which you dont see alot of. The art quality is 10/10

I got this book, yesterday, when it came out. I sat down to read it, during work, and found it hard to put down, even though I knew it would all come out right in the end. What is the point of a story where we know the ending? Because the journey is the reward, not the destination. Do you read stories to find out the ending? If so, then you will be disappointed with this book, because this comes out two years after the birth of Pal, so not only do we know he was born, we also know that Lucy succeeded in getting pregnant. With this book, Lucy has given us the background, how she wanted to be a mother, and how society treats both those who want to be mothers, as well as those that are mothers. Society has done so much less research on the woman's body that many things that we think that the medical field should know, they don't. But this does not tell you why this is such a fantastic book. This is so well done, because this is Lucy's journey to motherhood, with all the humor, and real life slice of life that she has exhibited in all her other work, and does to this day. This is the story of how Lucy does become pregnant, and all the observations about how life is in that state. It is a story that so many mothers, who gave birth, know so well. And yet each story is different. If you enjoyed her books about growing up, this is about growing up. If you have enjoyed Lucy's books about food, food is mentioned. If you enjoyed her book about her marriage, this continues that story. And if you enjoy her current stories about life with Pal, then you will love finding out how he came to be.

I have never experienced pregnancy. But I bought this book because I'm a fan of Lucy Knisley. While I have never experienced motherhood, I'm the eldest of four and watched my mother go through it. Spoilers: Lucy talks about her experience of pre eclampsia. How much she had to put up with despite telling her doctor that she thought she had it before she gave birth. That part of the book really broke down what my mother went through. My own mother laughs it off and tells us that it was nothing, despite the fact that there was a probability she could have died. While my mother wasn't knowledgeable enough to diagnose herself or ask for a diagnosis, her pain was still ignored by her doctors, telling her that what she was experiencing was "normal". It wasn't. She was ignored until, at 7 months pregnant, she woke up in pool of blood. She was rushed to the hospital. The doctors weren't sure if it was coming from her or my little brother. Before she went through an emergency c-section, she was asked to sign papers on who would receive custody of my little brother should she pass. She refused to sign them. Fortunately, my mother and my brother are still alive today, almost 18 years later. Without Lucy's book, I don't think I would ever really understand what my mother went through. I feel closer to her now because I'm able to understand such a terrifying experience. Because to this day my mother doesn't want to worry us and laughs it all off. It really is a beautiful read. Thank you, Lucy, for letting us in on this chapter of your life. I'm sure a lot of us could either relate or just understand what our parents might've gone through.

This book arrived at 10:30am and I devoured it by 12:00pm. And wow. I haven’t been so moved by a graphic novel since Craig Thompson’s Habibi. This is not just your average pregnancy memoir. It is a powerful commentary on contraception, modern sexual education, miscarriages, women’s health, and the societal stigmas surrounding reproductive health. This makes it an important read regardless of gender and desire to be a parent. However! I would not read this if I was pregnant. Because her story in a particular shows the bleaker, darker sides of the pregnancy process. That decision has powerful purpose but is certainly not comforting. I appreciate her vulnerability and wisdom. This is a masterfully woven slice of life treasure that I will be visiting and referencing for the rest of my life.

After reading this book and some personal experiences of my own, I realized how little my public school sex education classes really taught me about planning for a family, reproductive biology, and contraceptives. The focus of these classes was always: "Sex = STDs + babies (a.k.a. 18 years of responsibility)". I feel like this book and the Mayo Clinic's guide to pregnancy book filled important gaps in my education. I think anyone would benefit from reading this book - man, woman, expecting, not expecting, kids, no kids, etc. I especially appreciated the parts where Lucy talked about her 2 miscarriages and how that affected her - physically, mentally, emotionally. Miscarriage is not something our culture talks about much, and maybe we should.

I have been a fan of Lucy's for years, but find that each book she releases is unfailing LUCY & I devour it immediately. This book was honest & lighthearted, gritty & sad, and overall just wonderful. Lucy Knisley doesn't stray away from difficult topics or emotions. Instead, she delivers her honest account of what it means to be pregnant and for the long and rocky journey many people have in doing so. I loved all the gross and strange details, the weird history of women's bodies and pregnancy myths, and the love that was woven throughout. Absolutely would recommend to anyone who likes books, comics, memoirs, real conversations about experiences, moms/dads/caregivers and the many of us that fall in between.

I can not tell you how good this book is. As the mom of a one y/o it makes you feel like you are both part of a global tribe of mothers and built to take on the largest challenge of your life. Artful, entertaining, heartbreaking, informative and intimate; Lucy invites you into the world of the modern mother without the common fake gloss of social media. I appreciate her expressiveness, candor and humor on a topic that can be hard to broach without alienating or igniting mom shame. Thank you Lucy for continuing to document your experience and let us whiteness your journey as a mother and artist.

While this was a little traumatic to read during my own 38th week of pregnancy, this was the only pregnancy book I enjoyed reading (and heck, I think it was more informative than most 'factual' books). I was constantly annoying my husband by calling him over to show him different funny moments we could both relate to and there were definitely some tears shed. I've always been a fan of Knisley and was happy to be able to be pregnancy buddies with her, even if only from the page. Looking forward to her next book!

This book is great. It strikes just the right balance between personal and informative, with alternating chapters covering her experience and pregnancy research. It also has many shifts in tone, ranging from tender to dramatic. The story is very well mapped-out, neatly book-ended, and engaging throughout. I had thought I would save it for later reading, but instead kept picking it back up to see what came next. I would definitely recommend giving this one a try if you are considering it.

I read this book to its completion in one sitting. This is a first Lucy Knisley book I've had the pleasure of reading, recommended by an artist I follow on social media. It was like I was reading a pregnancy story about a dear friend. And even though I cried multiple times throughout the story, it still made me feel joyous and wanting more. This book is great even if you don't want to be pregnant. I wish all pregnancy memoirs were illustrated by comic artists, especially women.

Wonderful graphic novel. My son and hers were born 2 days apart. I loved following along on Instagram, and finally purchased her book to read the full story. Well told, beautifully illustrated! I have to chexk out her other books now!

I have been following this cartoonist for a while. I was very excited to get this book- read it all the day I got it! As a new mother this book made me laugh and cry. An honest and open look at becoming a mother. I am very glad she chose to share her story. You won’t regret buying this book! If you found this review helpful, let me know!

Love this brutally honest graphic novel about pregnancy and birth. A great read to get me through some hard times in pregnancy. Thank you, Lucy!

Absolutely loved this book. I've been pregnant twice, I'm done having children. But I still enjoyed this book so much and will recommend it to all my friends. I laughed, I cried, I got infuriated with women's health care. So well written and illustrated, great job Kinsley.

What a great comic. I laughed and I cried, just like I did during my own pregnancy journey. Lucy shines light on struggles that so many women face while trying to get pregnant or being pregnant. A great read, beautiful art, and full of soul as always.

As good as new, I can’t wait to read it!

As someone who went through many similar experiences to Lucy while trying to get pregnant, this book was so cathartic. She writes and draws about topics like infertility and miscarriage with depth and emotion and I am so glad she made this book.

As someone who has also suffered multiple miscarriages, an awful pregnancy and a traumatic birth, all I can say is that I have never felt as seen or represented in a book as this one. Plus it's funny! And sad! And has lots of great history! Highly recommend.

I've loved every one of her books, and this one was no exception. She's a brilliant memoirist; her stories are thoughtful/personal/vulnerable, the facts are well-researched, and her art is amazing. I suggest you check out her other books, as well!

Parts of this book will be relatable to any (new) parent. She has an intense story to tell, though. I’m glad to be reading this now that I know I’m done having any more kids but will be eagerly looking forward to future books about her parenting journey.

Loved this book, from the second I opened it I couldn’t put it down ♥️

What a joy to view and read. Lots of factual information surrounding women’s heath as well.

Even though I have never been pregnant and may never be, I found Knisely's latest graphic novel a compelling read. It is both educational and personal; Knisely has such a great eye and sense for what readers will find relevant and fascinating.

I've read all of Lucy's previous books and this one is so great. I just had a baby last year so I totally related to everything she wrote about. She's so funny and honest. The last chapter is tough--I'm so glad she and Pal made it through!

An amazingly real account of the craziness and unpredictability of pregnancy and childbirth. Plus - full of information you never knew you needed.

Lucy is such a talented author and artist. A must have book for all expecting moms!

I love everything from Lucy Knisley but this book was particularly relatable. Should be a required read for anyone trying to get pregnant, currently pregnant, or raising young children. Highly recommend.

I read this twice in a day, and cried! Very validating read for a woman. Highly recommend.

I love this author’s books and drawing styles and was so excited to get my hands on this! Her book is so personal yet relatable and is also full of fun facts.

We don't have enough real pregnancy and birth stories and I loved hearing about Lucy's experience. Such a wonderful read and I am now going to share it with all my mama friends.

I absolutely loved this book. The writing is great and really shows all the emotions associated with being pregnant and all that entails. The art is just gorgeous!

I am in love with this book. Thank you so much for talking about actual parenthood concerns and also giving us a couple of laughs along the way!

This book is a very well created knowledge that I didn’t know I needed. I recommend this book for anyone who has been pregnant, trying to, or are pregnant.

Another great book from Lucy Knisley. Appreciate her vulnerability in talking about the complex issues surrounding bringing a baby into the world and becoming a parent.

I have enjoyed every one of Lucy's graphic novels. This one is a non-fiction based on her pregnancy. It still has the Lucy flair.

Love Lucy Knisley's illustrations. Great look into a very human, usually private experience, filled with emotion humor and insight. Good job, Lucy!

Beautiful book about pregnancy and the trials of becoming a mom. Just like parenting this book ain’t for the faint of heart.

Great book! Would recommend!

I felt like I connected with the author on a deep and personal level.

Lucy Knisley is my favorite! Her books are so relatable and always come at the perfect time for me.

Wonderfully illustrated, brutally honest, and has lots of fun facts. Her best work yet.

Great author! I always have fun reading her books!

Thoughtfully written and drawn. Everyone should read this.

Read front to back the day it arrived, v good book!

Awesome book about pregnancy, birth and motherhood. Highly recommend!

Excellent Read. Informative and entertaining. Definitely recommend.

great art, great writing.

It feels like every first person account of pregnancy is written for people who have no experience with or don’t plan to be pregnant! This is the sort of book I’d recommend for a child free friend or like a male partner. All the facts are so basic and presented like something on explain like I’m five. She also writes about how she relies so heavily on other women who have experienced what she experiences but then acts like she’s the first person to ever have a miscarriage or be pregnant! I found this wildly unrelatable as someone in the middle of this process. I guess if you’re never going to have kids and want to rubber neck this is probably a good book. Otherwise you’re better off looking for less patronizing support.

Kid Gloves is a graphic memoir that describes Lucy and John Knisley’s attempts to get pregnant and have a healthy baby. Knisley takes us through “The First Try” which led to a miscarriage, then on to a second miscarriage and corrective surgery. When she finally gets pregnant and is able to continue safely, the chapters are amusingly titled “The Foul First”, when she gets extremely nauseated and sick, “The Sleepy Second”, and “The Eternal Third”. These are followed by “The Birth Story” and “Coming Home”. Prefacing sections of her story, Knisley provides candid, straightforward (but never dry) research segments, such as historical misconceptions about women’s physiology, “Miscarriage Misconceptions”, “Conception Misconceptions”, “Pregnancy Superstitions”, “Not Having Kids”, “The Historical Preggo”, and “Birth Class.” The research sections nicely set up the memoir sections, giving the reader some context and background, as well as dispelling some harmful misconceptions. Knisley has the gift of truly seeing the humor in her situation, never taking herself too seriously to give us a frank, honest look at what she went through, and how she and John felt. We share their sadness and her physical pain over the two miscarriages, her successful conception only to suffer a terrible first trimester, the difficulties of poorly communicating doctors, even to the point of risking her survival. Knisley has pre-eclampsia, a condition most of us learned of from Lady Sybil’s tragic birth scene in Downton Abbey. Knisley tried to alert her doctor to the symptoms that appeared to check all the boxes, but he blithely ignored her. Knisley shares stranger’s, friend’s, and family’s reactions throughout, in a deeply honest way. Whether you have lived through miscarriage or pregnancy (as I have), or supported family or friends through the process, this book really is for everyone. While Knisley always had a desire to have a family, she shares how her husband came around to this choice himself. She also frankly discusses those who firmly wish to never reproduce, for all sorts of reasons, presented in a non-judgmental way. Knisley speaks to the chasm that exists in our culture between those who choose a child-free life, and those who opt for children. She asks why we have to separate ourselves into different camps, as though our choice is a negative judgement of others’ choice. I highly recommend Kid Gloves. You’ll learn a lot, and appreciate what women go through, the risks, discomforts, and joys, in all their conception and non-conception choices.

As a woman who isn’t very interested in babies, I doubted I would love or even like this book. But I did. And it made me cry. And laugh. And cry some more. But I didn’t make me want to have a baby myself, even though it is a crazy, awesome experience that makes you grow in ways that I- not being a mother- won’t ever completely understand.

Loved this one! It’s a honest and moving glimpse of the authors journey to become a mother, and I loved all her research into the stigmas and pressures surrounding childbirth.

Kid Gloves looks like another cutesy book about pregnancy, but it's a lot more than that. It also features myths and facts about pregnancy, some interesting history regarding how far obstetric medicine has come, tidbits about medical struggles, and most notably, a long section on infertility and miscarriages. There's a point Lucy makes at one point that really resonated with me, as a fellow miscarriage survivor: If 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage, why aren't 25% of media portrayals of pregnancies acknowledging that? Instead, we live in a world where people are made to feel guilty, ashamed, and/or tragically alone after a miscarriage, and we have to do better. It isn't fair for anyone to suffer these traumas alone. While it got a bit boring at times, overall, I thought Kid Gloves was an interesting pregnancy memoir. I'm not sure I would give it to an expectant mother, because I think it would have terrified me to read about Lucy's emergency c-section and pre-eclampsia in such vivid details, but it was still fascinating to read about and heart-warming to know that everything turned out okay for Lucy and her little family in the end.

I would read just about anything Lucy Knisely writes, but her take on pregnancy, childbirth, and impending motherhood was especially interesting, and not just because I'm planning to have kids in the not-so-distant future. KID GLOVES provided honest, personal insights into everything from miscarriages to the modern day pressures of parenting, and I enjoyed it immensely--in spite of how horrifying some of the Knisely's experiences were. There's no one who writes nonfiction about specific life stages better, or with more entertaining illustrations.

I've never read a whole graphic novel before, but this was a nice shift in my normal. I, too, realized the truth that fertility is a privilege and gift, rather than a guarantee. I could relate with the author's story and the hilarious takes on the little lessons along the way. Well done! I'll look for more!

I finished reading Knisley's beautiful graphic novel about her wedding this morning, and saw my library had this one available on Kindle too. So I checked it out. I was not prepare for how terrified and emotional this book would make me feel as someone who is not currently and has never been pregnant! As usual, Lucy Knisley brings clarity, empathy, and a sense of grounding to a complex and emotional topic. By turns informative, hilarious, and horrifying, Kid Gloves is an important read--and not just for those expecting a baby of their own.

Lucy Knisley always writes with honesty and reflection that most memoirs only hope to achieve. In Kid Gloves, her own story of miscarriage, depression, conception, tough pregnancy, not being listened to by her doctor, and an incredibly traumatic birth are raw and beautiful. I laughed, I cried, and I had many moments where I was livid with our US healthcare system. Thank you for sharing your story, Lucy Knisley. This book is needed in the world. I hope many people read Kid Gloves.

As a father whose wife went through a difficult pregnancy and a scary childbirth, this story hit close to home. That being said, I think that Lucy has a unique ability to bring you into her world and empathize regardless of your personal situation. This book is extremely personal, but also does an amazing job of shining a light on all women and how everyone’s situation is different. There is absolutely no judgment and no preaching in this book. There is only love.

I love how she described the ups and downs of pregnancy. Can't wait to read more from her. Thanks Lucy.

I won’t buy these books no matter how good the reviews. When an author trashes hard working teachers on instagram then it’s not an author I want to support.

I laughed, I cried, I loved it. This book is utterly charming, deeply moving, and beautifully illustrated. I've been following the author on instagram for a while now and fell in love with her art, and have now fallen in love with her books. Pick up this book and read it! You won't be disappointed.

The most honest, comprehensive revealing and helpful book on pregnancy, miscarriages, birth, breastfeeding and everything in between that has ever been written. I wish I had had this book as I was leveled with morning sickness for 9 months. We need more books like this that are brutally and lovingly honest.

It's emotional and funny, personal but accessible; with the occasional addition of history to broaden the context of an otherwise individual story. The visual storytelling is clear and charming, so I hope a lot of non-graphic novel reader pick it up - I know they'd love it if they did!

Amazing book, but don’t buy it for your kindle! It wasn’t formatted correctly or maybe my download was corrupted, but I had to return it and get the real deal

Read by a want-to-be father. Thank you Lucy for sharing your journey. We need more books like yours. I look forward to this experience with my wife.

I own all of her books and this is another great one. Not only is the artwork really good, but the (true) story is very compelling.

This is the best pregnancy book I’ve read since the first trimester. Sure, the delivery part terrified me, but remember, ever birth is different!

Enjoyed it so much! Just finished reading it while 38 weeks pregnant. Even though this isn’t my first pregnancy, it’s just so relatable!

I like Lucy Knisely's work. I just wish I would have waited until after I give birth to read about her birth story and all of the complications that came with it. Now I'm just a terrified pregnant lady.

Knisley beautifully illustrates her journey into pregnancy and shares her difficult and, at times horrific, birth story with a unique gift for humorous realism. She also includes lots of interesting tidbits about the history of human reproductive knowledge. I adore her candor and that, despite challenging circumstances, I always finish reading her memoirs feeling refreshed with a sense that all will be well in the world.

I originally bought this for myself, but my mom was interested in it so she got my copy. Then I bought another for myself, and it was a great read. Informative, captivating and well written. I could not recommend it more! I even bought another copy for my cousin!

Beautiful and touching book, great for pregnant women to know you’re not alone *disclosure does talk about miscarriage

This book is brilliant!