In Vitro

by William Roy

A newly wedded couple is full of life, love, and inspiration. They have everything they've always wanted...except a child.

From unsuccessful attempts to repeated failures, the two newlyweds face a menacing foe: sterility.

Together, they embark on the confusing journey that is in vitro fertilization. Haunted by the hyperbole of WebMD and the guilt of infertility, Guillaume experiences the daily embarrassment of sperm donations, tests with dreaded results and endless consultations--not to mention the specter of his own estranged father who reappears suddenly in his life...

With realistic, self-effacing charm, William Roy humbly and accurately shares a deeply human experience that is propelled by unshakable hope.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Nonfiction, Science, Adult, Memoir, Family

156 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Žarko]

Teške teme su lakše kad s nekim podelite muku, al treba i za to stisnuti petlju. Veštačka oplodnja nije retka, ovako napamet znam dva dobra drugara iz srednje koji su tako dobili decu, uz manje ili više peripetija, a ko zna za koliko poznanika i ne znam... Ovakve knjižice mogu malo da rasvetle i olakšaju situaciju, da ne bude baš toliko traumatično, da ne bude bauk - ni parovima u procesu niti njihovim prijateljima. A kao što biste i očekivali od francuskog stripa, iskren je, sa dobrom dozom neophodnog humora.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting portrayal of the in vitro fertilization process, and is told from the husbands point of view.

Also, the author and his wife aren't from America, and apparently in France the government covers 4(!) of your in vitro attempts. It's beyond crazy to me that other developed countries can help their citizens, yet in America it's dollar for dollar, and you're LUCKY if your insurance HELPS (not even covers, but simply HELPS) pay for it. *sigh*

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 2.5 stars, but I'll round up.

This is the fictionalized account of the author's experience with infertility due to his sperm issues. As his stand-in points out in the story in regards to his wife, "It's hard for me to live with the fact that, although I'm the one with the problem, she has to deal with all the medical stuff in order to have a child." And that medical stuff is recounted in detail, usually contrasting the intrusive procedures she is undergoing while he trots off to masturbate in rooms that (oh no!) aren't particularly conducive to achieving ejaculation.

While its interesting to see the husband's perspective, it's also easy to see why we are usually given this tale from the woman's side. To add more drama, a good portion of the book is given over to his relationship with his estranged father, so he can, y'know, reflect on what makes a bad father, but I wish he had used the space to delve more into his relationship with his wife.

The art is an okay cartoony style, but at one point Roy is trying to capture the likeness of Clint Eastwood over several pages for an extended gag and doesn't quite pull it off.

[Christine Picard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just realized it must have been released in French prior to this edition and now I regret reading it in English but oh well. Since I’ve been through 5 IVF myself, I know the struggle. The never ending « when are you gonna give me grandchildren » questions. The failure. Feeling like you are less than human. Everything in this book is 100% true. From the awfully long months in between medical appointments to not trusting the medical staff. This is great because it is authentic. (And the drawings are nice too ahah)

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deals with infertility honestly, but for a U.S. audience, it may be frustrating to learn that in France, the government will pay for up to four IVF attempts, while here, that is a laughable concept. And the ending, while I am sure it is true to life, was jut a little too pat for the narrative. It was a huge amount of build-up for a neat wrap-up.

[Sneha Jaiswal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting peek into the IVF process

"In Vitro" almost feels like a text-book guide to what a couple can expect when they decide to have a baby via IVF. Told from the POV of a male protagonist, the book is filled with too many biological terms and details about the whole process. There's a small sub-plot exploring the protagonist's relationship with his estranged father, which sometimes felt uneccessary. Yet, creator William Roy manages to weave in how the protagonist's thoughts about his dad matter, since he himself is preparing for parenthood.

The artwork is simple and nice. I liked reading it. Perhaps it will hold a lot more value to those who've had similar experiences.

[Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5

[Elzbieta Wisz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This graphic novel hit close to home. When I saw the digital ARC available on Netgalley, I knew I had to request it. My husband and I struggled with infertility for many years. We now have a beautiful 9.5 month old baby boy. It was interesting to see things from the husband's point of view. I know my husband could relate to a lot of the feelings in the graphic novel. I know the feelings all flooded back to me when I read the parts where people kept asking WHEN, WHEN, WHEN? Also the feelings of loss. I did appreciate the laughs sprinkled throughout as well.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute and heartwarming graphic novel about a husband and wife that are trying to get pregnant. The story starts out with them trying the normal way and nothing happening so they each go to the doctor to get checked out and find out that the husband's sperm is not the best. So they go through a bunch of procedures to start the in vitro process. Throughout the book, they go through all the trials and tribulations of trying to get pregnant through in vitro. The book ends on a happy note but I won't spoil the ending for you. Overall, a great book with lots of info on the process and a really cute art style.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come for the body horror and stay for the intimate and emotional story of a couple’s struggle to get pregnant and what it means to be a man and a father when the author’s own father was a selfish POS who abandoned him and he instead was raised by his stepfather.

It is interesting that he feels so strongly about having a child of his own blood when his relationship with his father/stepfather proves that family can be the people you choose, not the people you are genetically tied to. I was flipping through this book and it’s the email from his dad that drew me in. I would have liked to see that aspect explored more, but the journey of shame, the grossness of the fertility treatments are more the focus.

His partner is amazing because she stoically goes through it all, from soooo many shots to creepy doctors staring at her privates unnecessarily while she’s in the stirrups—the tortures women go through to be moms! (The man’s job is much easier, but even that is weird when put into a medical setting like that.) Dang. I am glad I am content with having a dog because there is no way I could go through all that.

It’s interesting to see how much easier things are with France’s modern health care system. Here in America, couples bankrupt themselves for the treatments that French citizens have the right to: 4 rounds of IVF.

[Kuba · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am disappointed. The first one-third of the book felt like a mature story written for kids. Bad jokes, boring conversations without much focus on characters. The rest of the book is better but. Because the story presents the husband's perspective, there is not a lot going on. In the case of IVF, the husband's task is only to donate sperm. All the rest is in the hands of the wife. Probably that was the reason to add a plot featuring husband's father. The problem is it does not change a thing.

I am not a fan of the sketches also. They do not add anything to the story. Large part of them shows only silhouettes of characters.

[StrictlySequential ArtNarrative · Rating 5 out of 5]

165×240 +8cm rabats ¦ A.I. 05/2014 ¦ D.L. 06/2014 ¦ 18€ = eo
-›collection 'Contre Cœur'

This could easily be reworked into a masterpiece by a top-tier bd team, since he's done such an excellent job within his storytelling talent means, but this rougher presentation conveys his message better by keeping it personally told with his self-taught art. It doesn't get much more honest than this and he effectively teaches a very tricky subject.

[İdil Alter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yılın ilk kitabının In Vitro oluşunun ironisi... 😌

Biraz şahsi sebeplerle 4 yıldız verdim sanırım. Merak yüzünden okudum aslında, etrafta bu gibi şeylerin psikolojisini konuşmak pek mümkün olmuyor. Zorlu süreçleri, zor duyguları paylaşmakta pek iyi değiliz zira...

Hem samimi hem de çok gerçek. Çok spesifik bir durumla ilgili olduğu için, bilmiyorum herkesi benim kadar açar mı...

[Judy]

Picked this one up from a public library and read it in one sitting. One of the summer reading bingo spaces was to read a graphic novel. This may have been the first GN for adults that I've read. It was interesting to read a man's experience with IVF. It left me wanting more biographical information on the couple. 🤷‍♀️

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was fantastic…up until the very end. Why take the time to detail and flush out all the events leading up to the climax and then totally skip the climax? The ending was massively unsatisfying.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Vitro is a moving story about the ups and downs of IVF, with heartfelt reflections on fatherhood, infertility, and overcoming shame. It will resonate strongly with couples on their own journeys and with those contemplating starting out. Highly recommended!

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review forthcoming

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative. Maybe too much at times.

[Malissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh to redemptive endings

[Michael Indiano · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine.

[kayla ✎⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK WAS ADORABLE. as someone who may go through the ivf process this is a very helpful and cute story on telling the struggles of trying to get pregnant

[Suzann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovingly crafted graphic novel that shows us what some couples will go through to have a baby.

[Emma Andje · Rating 4 out of 5]

*actual rating is 3.5 stars*

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel is about a couple dealing with infertility issues. It's informative but also touching and emotional. I found it interesting to read about the IVF process from the husband's point of view. He manages to inject humor into frustrating situations. You also learn about his relationship with his father and how that has affected his life. Whether you're going through a similar process yourself or not, the story will keep you turning the pages.

I received a free digital copy of this book via NetGalley.

[Elia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to see a story about a couple's struggle with fertility from the point of view of a man. Usually stories like this focus on women facing issues of infertility, but this is a book in which the husband is the one who learns his sperm is not strong enough to make his wife pregnant. It bring up all sorts of thoughts and feelings for him: embarrassment, inadequacy, and feeling that he has failed "as a man," and deep sorrow that he can't give his wife, whom he loves, something she was always wanted so desperately. It also bring up all kinds of issues for him regarding his non-existent relationship with his own father, whom he has not spoken to in 20 years.
Since this book is set in France, it is also interesting to see the different way this country handles IVF from the way it is in the USA. Here, IVF is incredibly costly for couples. In France, the government pays for 4 rounds of it for couples, which is pretty cool.

[Bexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heart wrenching story of a couple struggling to get pregnant. William struggles with the issues of being sterile and watching Emma go through the procedure of IVF. A few funny scenes as the author attempts to describe what is happening scientifically, and I really enjoyed the scene of the "balls-rosary", but so much of this was just heart breaking. I appreciate that he made those boundaries with his birth-father who had decided when William was 13 that he did not want to deal with a child in his new marriage. I'm shocked that he even gave his father a second chance at the end. I'm just really happy for the ending, I hope there is more joy to come in their lives.

Copy provided by NetGalley.

[Karen]

In Vitro is the true account of the infertility struggles faced by newlywed couple Guillaume and Emma. I found this story incredibly heart wrenching yet full of hope. The Illustrations and writing worked together to provide a detailed documentation of the challenges this couple endured throughout their IVF journey. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read or learn about the emotional process of IVF and those who want to feel connected to others who are going through or went through something similar. I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story about the experience with in vitro fertilization. Bittersweet, but mostly sweet and very matter of fact about the process. At the same time there is a small exploration of a relationship dynamic between Guilliame and his father that leaves you wanting to know more. Hopefully there is more to come.

[Natalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was eye-opening and educational as it shares with you the beautiful and at times heartbreaking story of a couple going through IVF. It was cool to see the process explained in a consumable way, and seeing what it actually entails, I was really shocked at everything the woman has to go through. I really enjoyed reading it and rooting for them. I think this book would be great for any couple considering IVF that would like to see what it's like in a less daunting way or any reader who just feels like they want to learn about a new topic.

[Jenny Claiborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In Vitro takes an unapologetic look at one couple's struggles to get pregnant. It holds nothing back. I found myself cringing, hoping, feeling. This will be tough for some readers as it may contain triggers for those who have struggled themselves. As someone who did not struggle with infertility, it was an eye opening journey from start to finish.