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21 Miles

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21 Miles

By: Jessica Hepburn
Narrated by: Jessica Hepburn
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About this listen

After a decade of trying to become a mother - 11 rounds of unsuccessful IVF, multiple miscarriages and a pregnancy which proved almost fatal - Jessica Hepburn knew it was time to do something different.

So she decided to swim the 21 miles across the English Channel - no easy feat, especially for someone with an aversion to exercise who couldn't swim very well. As the punishing training commenced, Jessica learned you need to put on weight to stave off the cold. This then led to another idea: what if she wrote to a collection of inspiring women, asking if they would meet and eat with her to answer the question: does motherhood make you happy?

The response was overwhelming. From baronesses and professors to award winners and record-breakers, amazing women from different walks of life - some mothers, some not - all with compelling truths to tell about female fulfilment and the meaning of motherhood. On 2 September 2015, Jessica set out from Dover beach in the dark, taking the words that each of the women had given to sea in her bid to answer the question.

©2018 Jessica Hepburn (P)2019 Audible, Ltd Physical Illness & Disease Sports Water Sports Pregnancy Infertility Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking

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All stars
Most relevant  
What a lovely book, so honest and emotional. A must read for anyone struggling with infertility. I was so proud of Jessica's achievements, such an incredible journey...she had me sobbing so many times.

Beautifully Written

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I really loved this book , particularly the balance between infertility heartache, interviewing inspirational women who offered their 'word' and training for the English Channel swim. I related to so many things - the feeling of not being good enough, of feeling awkward, of loving food... well, so many things. The fact that Jessica Hepburn narrated the book too made every word more poignant. I finished it during my car journey to work one day and needed to sit quietly for a bit when I arrived. It really touched me.

Inspirational

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Brilliant , inspiring story . Fully recommend to anyone interested in fertility , motherhood and the pain of life not going the way you hoped . Great narration. Very inspiring

Binge listen

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I was searching for an inspiring channel swim book and found this. It is really powerful. Probably one of the few channel swim books written by a professional writer. But more so it’s about dreams and loss and self discovery/self recovery. Really profound. I listened on audible where the author reads it herself. I think I’ll get the book itself for deeper delve. I liked it that much!!
My one word about this book and Jessica’s channel swim adventure: *moving*, as affecting, as motivating and as going (forward).

Moving

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I loved this book. Every moment of it. The reading of it by the author was a rhythmically honest performance, and the story drew me along with each sentence, each stroke, each mile. The people she met, the lives that became known, the insights given, the wisdom shared. I didn’t want it to come to an end.

So much goodness in this!

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I had my doubts about this book at the start of it, but it soon became too good to give up on. A great book for women, I learned a lot and was inspired by the women and families who featured in it. A perspective like this helps us all to live our best life.
Well done brave Jessica, your story is an inspiring read to us all.

A poignant and enjoyable book

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I didn't know what to expect initially. I'm glad I listened. Everyone should read this. It needs to be shared.

Excellently written, profoundly delivered

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I loved this book from beginning to end.I was in awe of Jessica's achievements. i would definitely recommend.

Moving and monumental I loved it.

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Part memoir, part journalism, part adventure. Read by the author which Is always preferable. Inspiring, educational, and hard to put down.

Fantastic

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This audiobook was all the better for being performed by Jessica Hepburn herself. She tells her story well, sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, but each chapter ends in a thought-provoking way.
The 21 interviews asking the question "does motherhood make you happy" are fascinating and leave you re-examining your own thoughts and feelings.
This audiobook is a great listen for all women, especially those facing unwanted childlessness. It is an uplifting sequel to the sadness of her first book about her fertility journey.
Separately this book is a fascinating listen for anyone wanting to understand the how and why of swimming the channel!

A compelling read with long lasting messages

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