What the hell did I just read, in the best possible way. Sometimes, that is a simple statement that can be made after closing a book. Carrying by Samantha Josephs is just such book. Carrying is a terrifyingly unique book, that is as much an exploration into the life of a transgendered woman as it is an unhinged horror that just kept getting crazier as the pages turned.
Meet Martha: perfect wife, perfect stepmother, perfect woman. She’s got an adoring husband who wants more kids with her, a loving stepdaughter who looks up to her, and a body to die for. She’s an absolute pro: Salon-quality blowouts at home? Done. Perfectly plated meals on the table every day? Effortless. Meticulously faked miscarriages so her husband won’t suspect the truth? Just hand over the Oscar now.
Martha is trans, so stealth even her family has no idea. She carved the woman she is out of the marble of a boy, and she’ll do whatever it takes to protect what she’s built. When a mysterious chronic illness and its debilitating symptoms threaten to upend her existence, she starts experimental treatments and gives in to her surprising, unsettling cravings. She’s even more shocked to discover that she’s undeniably, impossibly pregnant.
With her body changing rapidly outside of her control and her choices dwindling, Martha struggles to maintain the life she’s fought so hard to live while preparing for the motherhood she never thought she’d have.
Carrying was not on my radar until more recently and I am both sad it wasn’t, but glad it caught my attention. Josephs have crafted a story that I wasn’t looking for, but never knew I needed in my life. A tale that had me screaming at the pages at times and running away at others. A captivating book where I wanted the best for everyone involved, but also hated people all the same. A uniquely horrifying story that also had me emotionally attached, but grossed out at the same time. Carrying is a book that surprised the hell out of me, in such a fantastic way.
Josephs has written a book where you can see where our main character is coming from, wanting to keep her secret just that a secret, all while carving out a perfect life for herself. Just when things seem to be going swell, a mysterious illness derails it all and has her grasping for answers as well as anything to help her feel better. Not to mention, adding a new mystery to the fold, being a transgendered woman that is now miraculously pregnant.
I was going back and forth between whether to be mad at Martha for keeping such a big secret from her husband. Thinking at times, why should it matter if he is happy, she is happy and life is swell, but then I also got to the point of, its still a secret being kept for the one you care about. This just reinforced to me that it cannot be easy to have to live such a life, but then you toss into the mix these unsettling cravings and a medically impossible pregnancy. This cannot be something to easy handle by yourself, driving me to again waffle back and forth between what is right and wrong. Damn.
Carrying is a simple drama filled with secrets to start but quickly devolves into a horrifying story when the unsettling cravings start to hit. What begins as a story I could recommend to anyone, turned into a story where I know I will have preface before handing out that recommendation. To be honest, I want to recommend this book to everyone, but some I will need to set an expectation before they crack open the book. These are the kind of stories I enjoy recommending the most as I am exciting for others to read this uniquely unsettling story that truly makes you think.
Josephs brings a level of authenticity to this book, one that can really be felt from the outset. Just making the story revolve around a character such as Martha can feel phoned in from just the generic author, but when coming from someone who has real-life experiences and knowledge allows the story to feel genuine and real. This is until we get to a certain point in the book, that’s when you know it’s a work of fiction. Josephs’ storytelling ability shines in this one and will be on the lookout for more from this author.
Carrying is an incredibly fresh blend of unsettling horrors, emotional connection, and poignant storytelling. Samantha Josephs bursts on the scene with a unique tale that is cringeworthy from multiple angles, in such a wonderful way. Carrying will have you looking away, yelling at the page, and in a state of awe at various times, making each part of this book gripping.
Carrying hits bookstores everywhere on October 6, 2026 from G.P. Putnam’s Sons. The audiobook, narrated by Christine Rose Schermerhorn, is available via Libro.fm!
