Genre: Historical Fiction

I read All You Have To Do Is Call by Kerri Maher at the recommendation of a friend. I learned a great deal about the Jane organization in Chicago in the early 70s - a network of women, doctors, police officers, and religious leaders who provided abortion care to women. The focus of the novel is on Veronica, a founder, who is pregnant; Margaret, a young professor; and Patty who is appalled at the notion of Jane as the book begins. Each of these women and their family and friends will grow and change a great deal as the novel progresses. Jane, the organization, will face its own challenges. The audiobook is expertly performed by Lauryn Allman.

If for any reason the topic of abortion is a triggering one for you, you might wish to avoid this title. If you just have strong opinions, this novel provides a great deal of historical context with which I was unfamiliar. As we see into the lives of these women - into their minds - we are privy to the restrictions with which women lived even into the 70s. These restrictions were beyond their own reproductive situations. I am always just a bit taken aback because this is my lifetime and these women could have been my mom. This characterization was one of the keys to the success of this novel for me. The setting, of course, works hand in hand with the characterization. I appreciate that we see stay at home wives and mothers, women in academia, women as artists. All of these different perspectives within the time period create an in depth look that I appreciate. Maher explores marriage, dating, work and family balance, friendship, racism and more. Still the book remains uncluttered, and has a strong throughline.

I appreciate very much this insightful and thoughtful look into Jane and the culture for women in the 1970s. Kerri Maher’s All You Have To Do Is Call is an important and compelling read. I always value being reminded how recently the rights as a woman that I take for granted. I am a believer in the power of knowing history and in the strength of women. Clearly, so is Kerri Maher.