Trying: A Memoir 🤍

By Chloë Caldwell.

Trying: A Memoir by Chloé Caldwell is an honest, intimate and deeply affecting book that explores identity, desire and the weight of expectation.

What begins as a reflection on age and infertility quickly expands into something far wider, becoming a tender and fearless examination of queerness, betrayal, grief and the pressure placed on people with uteruses to fit into a narrow idea of what a life should look like.

Caldwell writes in sharp, vivid fragments, each one carrying its own emotional punch. The structure mirrors the experience she is describing, with moments of humour, heartbreak and clarity arriving in unpredictable waves. Her voice feels raw and very human, inviting the reader into the strange space between longing and acceptance.

The book tackles cultural expectations with intelligence and grace. Caldwell shows how fertility becomes a countdown for some while others drift through life untouched by the same scrutiny. Her reflections on the fertility industry are particularly powerful.

The contrast between the treatment of straight couples and queer couples is handled with care and insight, revealing how deeply heteronormativity shapes the path to parenthood.

There is also a clever thread running through the book about the idea of life changing purchases, symbolised by a boutique selling perfect trousers. The metaphor lands beautifully.

Not everything can be fixed by trying harder, spending more or following the rules. Life is not one size fits all, and Caldwell captures that truth with gentle precision.

When the rupture comes and her marriage falls apart, the story shifts again. It becomes a book about starting over, about edging towards a new version of selfhood, and about the quiet power of rediscovery. Caldwell handles the pain of being happy for others while carrying your own grief with honesty and compassion.

Beautifully written, brave and full of emotional intelligence, this is a book that lingers long after you close it.

Thank you to Frances and the team at Verve Books for running this book tour. The book is out now and available to purchase.

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