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A Bookshop.org Bookseller Poetry Pick for Women’s History Month 2026“This is a book to savor, cling to, and gift to every mother you know. A stunning debut.”—Ashlee Gadd, author of Create AnywayA History of Holding is an intimate poetry collection exploring motherhood as both a physical and emotional transformation—where love expands alongside exhaustion, grief, and awe.Moving through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood, Allison Mei-Li traces the tension between holding on and letting go: of time, identity, and a child who is always becoming someone new. Grounded in everyday moments—from late-night Google searches to sun-drenched kitchens—these poems offer a tender, clear-eyed portrait of motherhood as it is lived.Perfect for readers of: Kate Baer • Maggie Smith • Ada LimónADVANCE PRAISE“Allison Mei-Li writes through the body—its breaking, its healing, its infinite capacity to love...A History of Holding is not only a meditation on motherhood, but on what it means to live in a body that remembers everything. It’s a testament to what we endure, what we carry, and how hard we love.” —Isabelle Correa, author of Good Girl and Other Yearnings“A History of Holding captures the raw and tender realities of becoming a mother, giving language to the experiences so many women carry just under the skin and fear they’re facing alone...More than anything, this book offers what its title promises: the rare gift of feeling held.” —Elise Powers, author of The Size of Your Joy“Beautifully written, tender and poignant. Reading A History of Holding feels like holding a crystal of womanhood up to the light—every turn reveals a different facet. Incredibly special.”—Michelle Awad, author of Soul Trash, Space Garbage“Allison Mei-Li has such a refreshing way of writing about motherhood. Her poems piece together the heartache, unfiltered joy, and unexplainable time-grief that comes with being a mother. You’ll walk away from this stunning collection with a fuller heart.”—Ophelia Monet, EIC of wildscape Read more
