elif1oner's review against another edition
5.0
Hard to read at times for sure, but I found the parts about “healing” so refreshing and actually informative. Such a good memoir too, 5 stars!
aylaandthebooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
An extremely triggering, relatable, and wonderful book. With a CPTSD diagnosis this book can feel way too personal, in good and bad ways. The information and story is helpful, but that makes it both comforting and confrontational somehow. I had to take breaks while reading and for days after each reading session I would struggle in true CPTSD fashion. Overall what I took away far exceeded the emotional struggles I had while reading it.
wild_er_ness's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.75
‘There was a psychiatrist who tried to put me on Prozac. I quoted Brave New World. “I want to know what passion is! I want to feel something strongly!” The psychiatrist responded, “I think that passion might be a chemical imbalance.”’
‘I didn’t just understand the weight of my abuse logically. I felt it, like a blade through flesh, like a bone popping out of place. I felt it like a lover saying it’s not going to work: sharp, immediate, and terrifying. I actually felt, with searing clarity, the horror of what happened to me—maybe for the first time ever. I felt how tremendously sad it was that I was forced to make my parents feel loved at such a young age. I felt how courageous I must have been to endure that torture, day after day for so many years, by the people I trusted most in this world. I felt a sense of love and adoration for my childhood self that I’d never been able to summon before.’
‘I didn’t just understand the weight of my abuse logically. I felt it, like a blade through flesh, like a bone popping out of place. I felt it like a lover saying it’s not going to work: sharp, immediate, and terrifying. I actually felt, with searing clarity, the horror of what happened to me—maybe for the first time ever. I felt how tremendously sad it was that I was forced to make my parents feel loved at such a young age. I felt how courageous I must have been to endure that torture, day after day for so many years, by the people I trusted most in this world. I felt a sense of love and adoration for my childhood self that I’d never been able to summon before.’
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Chronic illness
Minor: War and Racism
tamarahala's review against another edition
5.0
I looked forward to this book for so long and it did not disappoint. Informative, beautiful, sad but happy at the same time. I especially recommend the audiobook, where you can hear the voice we've come to know on the radio read her own words, and listen to recordings of her therapy sessions.
dr_0z's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.75
colyforniaroll's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Grief
siobhanturnbull's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
radishreads's review against another edition
5.0
Oof where do I start — as a fellow Malaysian Stephanie, I felt this within my bones. I found myself relating to a lot of the symptoms she detailed throughout the memoir. I especially loved listening to her sessions with her therapist, although at times he came off as rather condescending, I'm glad her sessions with him really paid off and set her off on her journey to healing.
I loved the final chapters where she tied everything nicely; how she found love, and most importantly, self-love.
I listened to this on audiobook and absolutely loved it. Poignant and bold, this book really packed a punch. And now I am going to buy the physical copy just to keep in my library.
— 4.5 stars ✰
I loved the final chapters where she tied everything nicely; how she found love, and most importantly, self-love.
I listened to this on audiobook and absolutely loved it. Poignant and bold, this book really packed a punch. And now I am going to buy the physical copy just to keep in my library.
— 4.5 stars ✰