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In this open, honest, and vulnerable book, the author shares her life story. She begins by explaining the early family dynamics and relationships that shaped her initial outlook on life. The author discusses her parents' awful divorce and how her father's abuse extended to not only the author's mother, but also to the family dogs. In subsequent chapters, the author discusses other family relationships—such as her relationship with her grandson—and how poetry and writing became significant parts of her life. In other chapters, the author once more reflects on her childhood, the schools that shaped her, and her role in the family. The author also shares professional ups and downs from her later years that shaped and reshaped her outlook on relationships, work, and life.
The author is very passionate about sharing her experiences, both good and bad. One of the most powerful chapters is one titled "I've Finally Had Enough of This Poor Excuse of a Marriage." The author shares heartbreaking details about researching sober homes for her son. She also discloses that her husband truly did not care about his son's issues and frequently left the author to handle household affairs alone. The author states, "While sitting outside on my mother's bench, I realized I was completely alone in this world." The author passionately discusses how her husband's "defensiveness and dismissive attitude toward my needs or grievances over the years had worn me down." One of the book's most powerful moments is when the author reclaims her agency by determining, "I was no longer going to be a doormat for this man who says he loves me." The choices—and the determination it took to make those choices—that the author shares are conveyed ardently.
As the book continues, its audience sees the various instances in which the author continually advocated for her well-being, her boundaries, and what she thought was right. It is this sense of self-advocacy and agency that makes this book memorable and inspiring. The author's self-awareness primarily develops through her keen observation of others and through a multitude of emotional experiences. Because of the memoir's time span, readers see how time, experience, and personal outlook combine to help a person develop this type of self-awareness. Each of the book's chapters, too, is a reflection on a significant piece of the author's life that broke but was eventually repaired. Thus, the title serves as a clear reflection of the book's structure.
This is a truly timely memoir as more and more people—especially women—are working to reshape their lives and claim agency over their existences. As the book concludes, Stankus offers people an inspirational reminder: "Always remember that you are never truly alone; a higher power is always by your side." She also encourages others to remember the life-transforming power that compassion for others and for oneself offers on a daily basis. This is a powerful, vulnerable book that tackles many difficult yet relevant subjects with an admirable amount of openness and honesty.