In this candid memoir, the author shares what her life was like under the shadow of her father's sexual abuse. She details her struggles to adapt to daily life and to function normally. Initially, she makes a heartbreaking admission: "Although my dad loved me, he loved me in such perverse ways that it had shattered me." This admission sets the book's tone because the coming chapters discuss what it means to live with—and to ultimately survive—such abuse. On the outside, the author's childhood seemed as normal as anyone else's. However, home held such dark secrets, ones that haunt the author well into her adulthood. The subsequent chapters, while heartbreaking and chaotic, provide a message of hope, resilience, and encouragement. The author's story of reclaiming her joy—and her own life—while becoming a beacon of hope for others is the positive message that so many need.

This memoir is written with openness, vulnerability, and brutal honesty. The development of the author's self-awareness as the book progresses makes the narrative gripping. One of the most painful moments is when the author recognizes, after her father dies, that "I was so messed up in life because this man, this father I adored, had sexually abused me for the better part of my life." She also makes thought-provoking statements such as "Who I am is the best predictor of who my children will become." Such statements encourage individuals to think about who they are as parents, friends, and other influential people and to contemplate what actions, behaviors, habits, and traditions they will—for better or for worse—pass on to others. In this careful examination of the self and how past events shape one's present self, the author gently reminds the book's audience that they, too, possess the power to break violent cycles, reclaim their lives, and move forward with refreshed, positive outlooks. This is an unforgettable read that offers lessons about healing and living that its readers will find beneficial.

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