If These Ovaries Could Talk: The Things We've Learned About Making an LGBTQ Family

by Jaimie Kelton, Robin Hopkins

JAIMIE KELTON and ROBIN HOPKINS, the creators and hosts of the popular podcast IF THESE OVARIES COULD TALK, realized the world needed to know there was more than one way to make an LGBTQ family. Each of their families came about in different ways, so how many other stories were out there? Turns out, lots. Inspired, the two friends launched their podcast asking LGTBQ families every question imaginable about their journeys to parenthood. Now the two hosts have written a book based on dozens of interviews to help address recurring questions that came up during their podcast. Is it important to have a child with your genetics? How does one pick a sperm donor? How will you talk to your children about where they came from? And just how does one pay for a baby because rumor has it, it costs a lot?

With insights and stories from guests such as StaceyAnn Chin, Judy Gold, and State Senator Zach Wahls, Jaimie and Robin go humorously in-depth and guide you on a journey that is equal parts funny, serious, happy, sad, celebratory, cautionary, and powerful. You can read this book cover-to-cover or skip around like your very own LGBTQ choose your own baby adventure book. You’ll learn a lot and laugh even more along the way! Who knew making a baby could be this much fun?

Genres: Nonfiction, LGBT, Parenting, Memoir

348 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 22, 2020

About the author

Jaimie Kelton is an award-winning actor, voiceover artist, producer, and podcast host based in New York City. She has over 17 years of experience performing on stages in New York City, in Regional Theaters, and on National Tours. She is a Helen Hayes Award winner recognized for excellence in professional theater and a SOVAS Award winner for her portrayal of Bo Peep on The Syfy Network’s, Happy! Her voice can also be heard in Disney’s hit cartoon, The Octonauts (Tweak, Pinto, Twinkle the Sea Star), Amazon’s Bug Diaries (Scarlet Lily Beetle, Ant Leader), and Fairy Tale Forest (Gaby). Jamie co-hosts the popular People’s Choice award-winning podcast If These Ovaries Could Talk, where she chats with guests about non-traditional families making babies when making babies doesn’t come naturally. She lives with her wife, two children, and a tiny dog named Roxie in Manhattan.

Reviews

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really a 4 and a half. Absolutely loved this book from cover and the same humour/lightheartedness that I love the podcast for, translates so well into the written page. I have listened to all the podcasts, so the stories were familiar to me but they are beautifully and concisely edited so would definitely recommend to a friend if the podcast wasn't for them. Having said that I would equally recommend if the podcast was for them as although the stories were familiar to me I still loved it.

So why doesn't it get 5 stars in my eyes then? I guess the main reason is that I am not American (I am from New Zealand). Not that I have found that an issue with loving the podcast. The stories themselves are super relatable and translate across different cultures. However I would love more international stories. I would love to hear how fertility systems and LGBTQ families are received and created around the world. For example, my experience of being a gay single mother in NZ where sperm donors do not get paid thus causing a nationwide shortage meant I waited 16 months to get to the top of the list and then was offered 8 options. No photos, no audio. But hey, it worked out as I am currently 8 months pregnant with my first child. So more stories of different perspectives I would love - and they are in there from time to time but would be cool to learn even more.

Anyway, loved the book. Will recommend to lots of people.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Who’s the real mother? Who’s the biological mother?’

Creating a book from a podcast proves to be a very successful venture for authors Jamie Kelton (actor/producer, voiceover artist) and Robin Hopkins (actor/writer/producer/playwright) whose podcast ‘If These Ovaries Could Talk’ has won the coveted People’s Choice award for their conversations with LGBTQ families. Those chats are now made available to the reading public in a book that highlights diversity and quality information while entertaining with a lighthearted writing style/

The book is very easy to share with people who have questions about raising a family with same sex partners. The themes explored include choosing whether or not to begin a family, who the carrier will be, the selection of donor – egg, sperm, surrogate, adoption, foster care, sharing the birthing and the responsibilities that follow (how to inform the child of heritage and LGBTQ choices, the legal situations that arise, etc) and the scope of being a family as LGBTQ parents and offspring.

The interaction between the authors/hosts and the interviewees is sensitive, warmly compassionate, and at times hilarious, following the leads of the invited guests. There is much to be learned from reading this book: it is more informative than could be imagined – in a very good way.

[Nina Cortez · Rating 5 out of 5]

So excited that this book has come to fruition and I have a companion to one of my favorite podcasts! Informative and amusing, not to mention heartfelt and sincere. If you or anyone you know are working on building a non-traditional family, pick this up no matter what stage you're at!

[Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

We need these stories! Stories of how LGBTQ people have made their families. The podcast is awesome as well.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t thank the publisher enough for this review copy!! Thank you again Ben at @litriotpress!
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💖
I learned so many things from this read, so many things I never would have thought and things I’ve always been curious about. While I found myself laughing out loud I also hurt for some of those who opened themselves up to be included in this. It’s remarkable we’re in the year 2020 and still have folks fighting for equality and recognition due to who they love!
I can’t recommend this enough, to everybody... LGBTQ or not you should read this!
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💖
@ovariestalk @jaimiekelton @realrobhops #LGBTQ 🌈 #arcCopy #GoodReads #proteinreads2020
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💖

[Leah Beechy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't yet listened to Robin and Jaimie's podcast [of the same name], but after reading this book I know I need to.

If These Ovaries Could Talk was filled with fantastic information about how to make an LGBTQIAP+ family for anyone who wants to know. While the target audience is obviously members of the queer community, anyone reading it would learn so much about the process involved in creating a family if you are a member of the LGBQIAP+ community.

Each chapter covered a different topic in creating a family, and the format was basically interview-style, which makes sense, since the information came largely from the podcast. At first I wasn't sure how I liked it because there were so many contributors to the information presented in each chapter, but there was always a little blurb about who the person was and how their story connected to the information in the chapter.

I loved this book, and hope to start listening to the podcast soon!

TW/CW: infertility, racial slurs, cursing, homophobia

[Denny Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never met Jaimie and Robin, but reading "If These Ovaries Could Talk" leaves you feeling you've just had coffee with your best friends. They are kind, funny and wise. Jaimie and Robin hold your hand and encourage you to relax and feel good about yourself and the people in your life who you love. Given how complicated life is right now reading "If These Ovaries Could Talk" is an experience to treasure for all couples contemplating starting a family and an equally precious experience for families who already have children.

[K Shark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview of a lot of topics surrounding LGBTQ+ families such as paths to parenthood like fertility treatment/surrogacy/adoption, being a non-bio/gestational parent and talking to kids about their origins. It can seem a little disjointed as it is all based on interview segments, but the plus side is that means it offers an incredibly diverse mix of perspectives from real families. Overall, great representation of families and topics that aren't often discussed and worth a read.

[Chloe Skidmore · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so disappointed by this book. I was hoping for an LGBTQ family-building bible of sorts, but it ended up just being essentially a disorganized, seemingly unedited transcript of the podcast. There are so. many. typos. throughout the entire book, which I found distracting and off-putting. While there were a few moments of good information for sure, the overall structure of the book was so clunky that it detracted from what was/may have been useful.

[Candra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even listen to the podcast.
I was just someone looking to be a mom and looking fo answers.
Y’all so much information is in this book in such a funny way. It taught me a lot of shit.
Legal shit.
Donor information shit.
IVF shit.
Surrogacy shit.
The hard shit and the fun shit.

I feel like a book was FINALLY written for me!
Thanks guys!

[Egwiggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaimie and Robin are awesome! At the beginning of each chapter they do some educational setup/context and then weave in their sarcastic, charming witty humor. You can tell reading the transcripts from their podcast episodes they are wonderful, captivating hosts who really help tell the story.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

i LOVED this book. It's funny and also I loved how you can read it as a traditional book from front to back. But you can also read by subject matter or follow one of the author's journies or follow a particular couple. That made it a helpful resource for me. Plus it's highly entertaining.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first thought when I started the book was, "Bummer, this is a rehash of of the podcast." But as I continued reading, I realized that Robin and Jamie did more than transcribe episodes. They weaved together all these unique experiences into a shared story of queer parenting. As Jamie would say, that's beautiful.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing unique book that gives insight and guidance into raising a family in a non traditional way. Funny, heartfelt and moving this is an easy and enjoyable read especially the parts by Robin and Jaimie.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this podcast and the book did not disappoint. Some content will be repeat if you’ve listened to most of the podcast, but as usual Jaimie and Robin are really funny and their humor translates well from audio.

[Jeanette Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, frank and refreshing. I honestly didn't want this book to end - such inspiring, honest stories of love, life and family in it's many beautiful forms.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Baron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is informative AND fun. Nothing not to love. Totally worth a read.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew learning how to make a new traditional family could be informative AND entertaining? Very enjoyable read.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing and informative!

[Deena Lahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had this book many years ago, when my wife and I had our first baby and had a LOT of questions and few resources. Love the podcast, love the book.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love their podcast and loved this book. I highly recommend listening because Jaimie and Robin are so enjoyable to listen to. This book is such a great compilation of stories about so many families.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without Jaimie and Robin, I’m not sure I would have ventured into parenthood. Their podcast has helped us from the very beginning and this book solidifies the admiration we have for them!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you listen to the podcast, you probably don't need the book, but I don't listen to the podcast much so this was a nice, and more concise, way to get those stories. However, it would have been nice for there to be an even wider number of interview guests included in the book in each chapter, for a greater variety of stories.

[Dan Sacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of Jaimie and Robin's podcast, I'm not at all surprised by how entertaining, informative and surprisingly emotional the companion book is. Being a LGBT parent can present some unique situations (as any parenting situation can -- it's a wild ride), but the stories related here will offer perspective to any parent's outlook on building a family.