A review by jaclyn_sixminutesforme
What Is Missing by Michael Frank

4.0

For the most part this was a quiet and unassuming narrative, and I mean that in the best way - it’s strength for me was that it gripped me and had been fully invested in a story and characters that were in the midst of a very normal part of life, an infertility journey. This is written in a very literal and medical sense, and follows the mechanics of IVF and experiencing loss, so understandably may be triggering for some readers. I think it’s a subject not often covered in literary fiction, particularly with the sensitivity and complexity that Frank covers here. The other notable strength for me was the characterization, I felt that this was a family that felt real and nuanced and complex, with narrative threads that addressed the multitudes of life at various stages.

Many thanks to the author and FSG for sending a review copy.