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agchalle's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
creiland17's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
dagaz98's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Such a wonderfully terrible book. As a survivor myself I could draw many parallels to my life. It made me remember things I had tucked away, but not in a bad way. One of the things that flew at me was his family telling her how wonderful she was and how good for him she would be. I had completely forgotten I was told the same thing.
I didn't fully cry though till the acknowledgements and what she said about her son. I completely feel the same way.
I didn't fully cry though till the acknowledgements and what she said about her son. I completely feel the same way.
thuglibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Author Sundberg writes chillingly about being married to a violent, yet brilliant man and how she came to be with him. What is unusual is that she did not come from a dysfunctional and/or abusive family, which is the backdrop to so many of these stories of abuse. She writes clearly about how she was able to love her husband, and even protect him, as he abused her. Beautifully, yet compactly written by a woman who had had enough.
I read an advance copy and was not compensated.
I read an advance copy and was not compensated.
l3m0nad3's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to love this book but I just could not get into it. I never want to discount anyones history, espically domestic violence but this book goes back and forth, round and round and just labors on. 3 stars in generous. I really felt like I was re-reading the same chapters over and over again.
sunshinemilk's review against another edition
4.0
This memoir left me gut-punched. Can you be incredibly proud of someone you don’t even know and isn’t even in your community? I feel such pride and so much love towards Kelly. She is an incredible author and story teller. She took the trauma she experienced and grew up in and somehow told her story with so much grace and care.
Kelly was constantly abused by nearly every man in her life as well as her mother. Some of the abuse may even seem more subtle to some folks, and she shows the nuance of abusive parents/partners. They will drop everything and pick her up when she’s having a roommate crisis, however her mother is physically abusive and her father doesn’t believe she’s being abused nearly the entire book and hardly even communicates with her ever.
The author writes in such a way that you can almost feel where in her life she started to realize that she is not being treated right. The timeline jumps around A LOT and for that reason I had a little bit of a hard time following now and again.
I hope her and her son have so much peace and joy for the rest of their days.
Kelly was constantly abused by nearly every man in her life as well as her mother. Some of the abuse may even seem more subtle to some folks, and she shows the nuance of abusive parents/partners. They will drop everything and pick her up when she’s having a roommate crisis, however her mother is physically abusive and her father doesn’t believe she’s being abused nearly the entire book and hardly even communicates with her ever.
The author writes in such a way that you can almost feel where in her life she started to realize that she is not being treated right. The timeline jumps around A LOT and for that reason I had a little bit of a hard time following now and again.
I hope her and her son have so much peace and joy for the rest of their days.
kallbri's review against another edition
5.0
A tough, necessary read. So many people question why women stay, hearing Sundberg’s story will help people understand that question.
reigna's review against another edition
3.0
a brave and compelling story, but it often jumps timelines or dives into anecdotes within anecdotes that sometimes don't even serve to illustrate anything, and a lot of use of repetition, which worked well at first but soon grew to be tiresome and grating. still, it was an emotional journey i appreciated
curiousmustard's review against another edition
5.0
I can’t get over how beautifully written this is, especially considering the subject matter. I could (terrifyingly) see myself so easily in the authors shoes and at the end felt relief that I’ve never been in an abusive relationship like she went through.
I think it’s an important book to read, especially for women. I was shocked at how dismissive so many people were in her life and I’d like to think after reading this, I’d be a better advocate for someone going through something similar.
I think it’s an important book to read, especially for women. I was shocked at how dismissive so many people were in her life and I’d like to think after reading this, I’d be a better advocate for someone going through something similar.