Cheryl Diamond's "Nowhere Girl: A Memoir of a Fugitive Childhood" chronicles the author's tumultuous upbringing as a fugitive alongside her charismatic but troubled father, who led them on a nomadic existence across continents to evade the law. It is a captivating and deeply moving account of resilience, survival, and self-discovery. Diamond's candid portrayal of her experiences is both harrowing and inspiring. Despite the constant upheaval and danger, she emerges as a remarkably resilient protagonist, navigating the challenges of her unconventional childhood with courage and determination. Her introspective reflections on identity, belonging, and the impact of trauma offer profound insights into the human spirit's capacity for resilience and growth.

The writing style is compelling and evocative, drawing readers into Diamond's world with vivid imagery and heartfelt storytelling. Her narrative voice is authentic and raw, capturing the emotional complexity of her journey with honesty and empathy. From the bustling streets of New York City to the remote corners of the globe, Diamond vividly brings to life the diverse settings that shaped her unconventional upbringing. The memoir's pacing is brisk and engaging, with Diamond expertly balancing moments of tension and introspection. The central narrative arc unfolds with a sense of urgency, as Diamond grapples with the complexities of her relationship with her father and the impact of their fugitive lifestyle on her sense of self.

At its core, "Nowhere Girl" is a story of resilience, hope, and the enduring power of the human spirit. Diamond's memoir is a testament to the strength of the human will to overcome adversity and forge a path toward healing and redemption. Poignant and compelling, "Nowhere Girl" is a must-read for anyone seeking a powerful and unforgettable exploration of the human experience.

This was ok and while some of the stories that Cheryl tells of her upbringing made me feel for her, there were many where it seemed a little too far fetched. It was entertaining, but not totally believable and I wasn't totally invested in the story.

Cheryl Diamond had a unique childhood. Raised by parents on the run from Interpol, by the time she was a young teen she had been many different people. Her father was a serial entrepreneur, with investment streams and deposits across the globe. Her father was adamant that they were better off staying on the move, coaching all three children on how to avoid detection, subliminal messaging, and being "other-directed." As Diamond got older, her family, the unbreakable unit she believed in above all else, began to crumble. Her siblings' already turbulent relationship deteriorates and becomes more violent, and her father starts to exercise more and more domineering control over the family.

While the family was not part of a fundamentalist religious sect or self-sufficient survivalist group, there are a number of similarities between Cheryl's story and books like Tara Westover's Educated. It is a bit confusing initially, since there are large jumps through time and space to capture important memories of Diamond's life, and the reader doesn't learn the family's backstory until the narrative reaches her teens. It's a good book, and if memoirs of unique childhoods are your preferred fare, you won't be disappointed.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review via NetGalley.

This book hit all the right buttons for me. To begin with, the cover designer is a genius. That alone would have compelled me to pick it up. Then to read the synopsis that the book is a memoir from a child's viewpoint of a fugitive family who lived on the run all over the world intrigued me further. The book itself did not disappoint. The author takes us on a journey with her as we begin to understand the motivations and the dawning truth to her parents' decisions that sent her entire family into hiding. This book gives a unique perspective to what it means to grow up and separate from parents, become ones' own person, and forge one's own identity.

I really enjoyed this memoir. I don’t normally review them though as I think they’re very subjective. Overall the story flowed well and was fast paced.

Memoir about a girl growing up in a family that was constantly on the run with a controlling father and some pretty crazy family dynamics. This is the perfect example of 'truth is stranger than fiction'. The first half is the story of her childhood was riveting, heartbreaking and rather horrifying. The second half was more of a therapy session with Cheryl trying to recover from her childhood. Diamond is a talented writer and did a good job bringing the reader into her journey.

The truth really is stranger Than fiction! This is a memoir that has so much going on, you wouldn’t believe it if it weren’t true. (Some of my favorite kinds). I love how as the children grew, their perspective of their childhood changed. What was fun and adventurous turned sour, and they so desired some stability. It’s coming of age and very thoughtful- kudos to the author for gathering her story together and sharing it with the world!

This is a memoir about the coming of age of the author in a family whose lifestyle was to wild to say the least. This family were nomadic in their way of life and this of course, was very unsettling for children who are seeking some normalcy and stability. On the other hand, there is never a dull moment either. I found this to be an interesting and amazing story, with events that leave you as the reader wondering how much is true and how much is an adult recalling their childhood events in a more fantastical way. Either way, it makes for a page turning read about a unique lifestyle and how a child navigates those waters.
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A really good memoir with an even more interesting premise. Really, the fact that this is a memoir is so crazy because Diamond's upbringing is not like anything you'll see. It is deeply captivating and will have your mind spinning at this crazy life. Definitely recommend for anyone who loves memoirs and hearing other's life stories.

This is a memoir and coming of age story for a girl who was made to live life on the run. What a roller coaster of a read!

I’m not sure how much of this memoir actually happened and there are some super triggering scenes involving abuse and gaslighting. But I couldn’t take my mind off this book and it held my attention throughout.

Sorry to say this one was a disappointment. The summary sounded great but it just didn't land with me. The beginning of the book was fairly interesting but it really fell apart towards the end of the book.

The author, Cheryl Diamond, is stateless after surviving a childhood with a father who has ripped entire sections out of the DSM. Her father is the star in his own personal play, and everyone else is a set piece. It become apparent at after awhile, Cheryl isn’t sure what reality is, and what is her father’s machination. Her freedoms comes, but at a high cost—she’s stateless and many want her to pay for her parent’s transgression.. a totally gripping real-life story.

This was such a wild ride. I still can’t believe people actually live like this. I’m glad the author managed to get away from her father and live to tell this story. The writing was really good and the story kept my attention throughout. I would definitely recommend this to friends.

Memoirs are such a beautiful way to walk along someone's life. They can teach us so much and can open our eyes to how someone else's life can be so incredibly different from our own. I definitely felt intrigued by this memoir and felt it to be a really compelling read for the most part, but at other times, I felt it was dragging a bit and I would get frustrated with her voice. I was uncomfortable a lot of the time, but I think this is also what made it a good read and a well-written narrative. I did not love this book, but it will stay with me for a long time.

What a life; what a story! The author has truly lived an unbelievable life in her first 30 years. I am eager to know what became of the rest of her family, but I am glad she made it through to survive. This book is unlike anything else I’ve ever read, and I’m sure the story will stay with me for a long time. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Algonquin Books and Cheryl Diamond for the gifted copies in exchange for an honest review.Thank you to Algonquin Books, NetGalley, and Cheryl Diamond for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

One of the best memoirs that I’ve ever read. I’m still in awe. More of a review to come, but until then - if you like memoirs, pick this one up!

I stayed up until after midnight to finish it because I was sucked into Cheryl's story and I don't do that often for memoirs.

Just a warning to those who need to know triggers before picking up a memoir - there are some triggering events in Cheryl's life - sexual assault on a child, Stockholm syndrome (not outwardly defined but the signs are there), and domestic abuse.


This certainly isn't an easy or digestible memoir. There are parts that almost seem like fiction (and apparently some other reviewers think that this is a complete work of fiction posing as a memoir).


Cheryl's life hasn't been easy. She was born into family on the run. They moved sometimes every few months or every few years. Suddenly her dad would just say that had to leave and they would leave in the middle of the night. She was told that they were on the run from Interpol - but is that really true?

What really happened when her parents met and what followed after?

Nowhere Girl by Cheryl Diamond is a captivating memoir that will likely interest fans of books like Educated and The Glass Castle. It kept me up reading way past my bedtime.

Diamond’s story of her childhood on the run and her evolving awareness of her family’s atypical relationship with the law really pulled me in. It’s not an easy story, as a life like Diamond’s has trauma. It’s also a story of resilience.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

Cheryl Diamond tells the story of living on the run with her family as it slowly dwindles. From joy and discovery to trauma, abuse and killing, Diamond is trying to move forward with life. Does she have to pay for the crimes of her parents, shouldn't her parents pay for their crimes? What does a person do if they have no documents, no place to belong? This memoir reminded me a bit of Cheryl Strayed's Wild, but with an international flair.

So I’m going to play on the fence with this one. This is, “when fake it til you make it” goes wrong.

This book was WILD! Born into a family, a decade into being, international outlaws; the book starts off at a rapid pace. We are quite literally in the middle of a horrific car scene, where a family of 5 are careening down the Himalayan mountains without any breaks.

This is the story of a young girl, who’s earliest memories are around 4 or 5, that is documenting her life in chronological age, as she recounts her life on the run as outlaws with her parents. The story is truly mesmerizing and engaging, full of action and drama, and suspense. I was fully drawn in by her story, that I couldn’t put the book down. Learning about her family, living life on pure cash, fleeing country to country, and pushing life to the very edge in order to evade authorities.

There is a lot to unpack here in this story, however. Her father, a megalomaniac, who physically and emotionally abuses them, pushes them all to be the best of themselves at all things, but deprives them of emotional support, is forcefully urging his family to run from authorities for nearly 3 decades.

We see this family’s story being told from the youngest child’s perspective, Harbajan, starting with her first memory at age 4. Told in chronological order, we see her harrowing life in a family on the run, and the several escapades and situations that come upon them as they live through the 80s, 90’s, and early 2000’s.

Topics to discuss:
- Megalomania
- Emotional abuse
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Mental illness
- Generational trauma
- Helicopter/Detached parenting
- Lack of stability

Diamond (not her real name obviously) gives us front-row access to the behind the scenes of her parents’ illegal operation. We are literally hand in hand with her on this entire journey. Excited, scared, bewildered, and shocked right along with her as we read this visceral account of her childhood.

Yet, as I was nearing the end of the book, a thought dawned on me. What if this memoir is a con? She has been taught directly how to con people for a living. Seeing that she was in financial distress, this book could all be a con? These stories she tells us in chronological order could all be a scam, and we’re all being scammed? Her story is unbelievable. Straight from the movies, unbelievable. If this is true, she has had one heck of a life. However, her credibility is definitely in question seeing how she has professionally been able to keep up a lie for the majority of her life. They’re lives were very extravagant, strict, and orderly despite the abruptness and spontaneity that they lived on. She has impeccable memory, from these small details at the age of 4 up until her mid/late-20s. It’s hard to believe that this family of 5 lived via cash only through the 80s and 90s evading the law. If this is all true, this is an amazing journey that shows a side of humanity we don’t get to see too often.

However, this exciting lifestyle, though it may seem, is very sad. Diamond and her siblings never see stability in their childhood. They are prohibited from being normal in any sense of the word, and they are constantly on edge from having to lie and fake it through everything in their lives. The cost of having to leave people, things, memories, lives, etc. constantly weighs on them all, until it hits a breaking point. Where do you go when you can’t go anywhere? This is the life of Cheryl Diamond. Would recommend, 4 stars.

Thank you to Algonquin Books and Cheryl Diamond for this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.