Ros Gough
Did she do something wrong?
When Paige miscarries, she is devastated. She has a stable career and a supportive husband but a hole in her life has been laid bare. An emptiness where all the mothers should be. All those answers she’s missing.
Phantoms is a contemporary novel that explores the experience of miscarriage and grief, other forms of pregnancy loss and infertility, their ripple effects on relationships and future decisions, and what loss makes of motherhood.
Trigger Warning: This book contains themes of miscarriage, baby loss, pregnancy loss, and stillbirth.
My Review:
From the very first page, it’s clear that Ros Gough has poured her heart into Phantoms. While this is a work of fiction, it resonates deeply with the real-life experiences of those navigating the heartbreaking journey of baby loss. The author writes with a blend of empathy, tenderness, and hard facts, crafting a narrative that is both poignant and informative.
At times, I found myself a bit confused by certain aspects of the story. This may stem from the author’s deep involvement in the narrative, which can make certain elements less clear for the reader. However, this minor hiccup does not detract from the overall impact of the novel.
The central message of Phantoms is powerful: regardless of whether you’ve experienced miscarriage, missed miscarriage, stillbirth, or ectopic pregnancy, your story is uniquely yours. Each individual grappling with baby loss will process their emotions differently – experiencing heartache, grief, anger, and everything in between. It’s crucial to move forward with those memories in your heart, rather than moving on without them.
I extend my gratitude to Ros Gough for creating this essential piece of fiction that speaks to those seeking stories of this nature. There are few works that address these themes, and many who experience such loss might shy away from self-help or medical guides.
Phantoms is not just a book; it’s a heartfelt tribute to the stories of so many.
Reflecting on my own journey, I experienced an early miscarriage many years ago – something I never spoke about ever – and felt very isolated in my grief. I vowed never to risk that pain again. As I approach menopause, I often wonder how different life could have been if I had told someone, anyone. Please, if you are affected, speak to someone don’t go through this experience alone.
I also want to thank The Book Network for including me on this book tour. I was gifted a digital copy, and I purchased a paperback edition to annotate—there’s something special about holding a book in your hands.
Today, October 15th, holds particular significance as it marks the #waveoflight during #BabyLossAwarenessWeek. This evening, at 7pm, we will light a candle in memory of every baby lost. Head to https://babyloss-awareness.org for more information.
Ros Gough can be found on Instagram
All views expressed are my own. This review, or parts thereof, may also be published on my social medial channels – find me everywhere as momobookdiary – and book websites, such as Amazon, Goodreads, LoveReading, StoryGraph, and Waterstones. All links are correct at the time of publication.
Tags: #Phantoms #RosGough #TheBookNetwork #booknetworkcouk #booktour #bookreview #bookstagram
#miscarriage #babyloss #stillbirth #pregnancy #babyloss #breakthesilence #babylosssupport #babylossawareness
Content Warning: Miscarriage, missed miscarriage, stillbirth, embryo loss, first pregnancy that results in a live birth, postpartum depression (as stated at the start of the book)
Publication Date: 29 August 2023
ISBN: 9781739377106
Number of pages: 314
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