Wowza, you guys! This book! Diamond takes us through a wild ride, that feels absolutely insane and impossibly true. Having gone through so many identities, and often no proof she even existed, she became a girl from nowhere. But through this memoir, Diamond gives us a story of heartbreak, survival as well as self discovery, and ultimately the story of someone who overcame a childhood that anyone would struggle to make it out of.

The story begins when Cheryl is four years old in India. It continues through childhood and adulthood. The chapters are based on age and location, which make a book with a lot of shifting dynamics easier to follow as it flows through time chronologically. The chapters are short, which I like. And it is insanely readable.

By the age of nine, Cheryl/Crystal/Harbhajan (all the same person!) lived in more than a dozen countries, five continents, under six assumed identities. She knows how forge document, withstand an interrogation and disappear with zero notice. This story about a girl, born into a family of con artists, constantly on the move (from what, or who?) is surprising, heartbreaking and unfathomable. How can someone grow up not completely positive that they know who they truly are?

Cheryl Diamond’s memoir begins when she is four and her family is in Kashmir, India, hurtling down the Himalayas in their battered station wagon headed for the Golden Temple, the holiest site in the Sikh religion. The family are Sikhs. Today. In a few years they will be Jewish. Cheryl’s name is Harbhajan. Today. But in a few years she will be Crystal. Her father, a master financial criminal, or so she believes, uproots the family at the slightest sign of suspicion.
 
As she learn how to forge identity papers and fix a car with chicken wire, she becomes a near-Olympic-level athlete and then an international teenage model. She publishes a book about it. As she grows older, though, things get darker. Her identity is burned, leaving her with no past, no proof that she exists, and her family begins to unravel. Love and trust turn to fear and violence. Secrets are revealed, and she is betrayed by those on whom she relies most.

A best book of the year for me. Superb.

For anyone who follows my Instagram account, you know that I have been screaming from the rooftops about this book. It is one of the most outstanding stories I've ever read. It's unlike anything I've ever heard of and quite frankly, I wouldn't have believed someone's life could actually be like this had I not read the book.

I don't want to really get into any of the details regarding the story because I think it's best to go in as blind as possible. While there is no chance I would give this anything less than 5 stars, I wish there would have been a little more info given regarding certain family members, but I wonder if that was done on purpose.

All I can say is that once you get about 10 pages in, you sincerely won't want to stop reading. I've never read nonfiction this fast before in my life. The expression, 'this reads like fiction' is absolutely true here. There is something in this book for everyone.

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

Review Date: 06/28/2021
Publication Date: 06/15/2021

Thanks to Algonquin and Netgalley for the early copy of this in exchange for a review.

This is a really interesting premise- a girl that had been part of a family that constantly ran from the law, traveling the world and changing identities.

I enjoyed parts of this but other parts dragged on or were hard to follow. This could’ve used more editing.

“Because our beginning, our first reality, is not our destiny. It’s not always who we’re meant to become. It’s simply other people’s idea of who we should be.”

Thank you to @algonquinbooks for the ARC of this absolutely fantastic book! Swipe for a synopsis.

The story of how Cheryl Diamond (aka Harbhajan) grew up is a wild one. One that may truly come off as downright unbelievable. But once I finished this book, the most unbelievable thing was how incredibly strong and resilient Diamond is after growing up in such unusual and difficult circumstances.

I don’t normally love memoirs because I tend to find them kind of boring, but this one is anything but. Diamond’s story is fascinating and her writing is beautiful and vivid. Throughout this book I found myself smiling with, wanting to hug, and cheering for Diamond on many occasions. It was so inspiring to read as she grew from a child who is controlled by her father, and turns his expectations of her on their head and fights to free herself and live a normal life.

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone, but if you enjoyed The Glass Castle or Educated, you would especially love this beautiful book.

Tw: physical, emotional and sexual abuse, incest, gaslighting, diet culture, weight loss and disordered eating, chronic illness

I was reminded of Educated by Tara Westover as I read this book, for the father who manipulated and dominated his family and for the family who seemed lost and helpless in the face of the father’s rage. The author ends on a high note, reminding us of the power and redemption in forgiveness. Highly recommend.

The truth of Nowhere Girl, memoir by model and author Cheryl Diamond, is stranger than fiction. The answer to the "why" of her on-the-run childhood seems to be the fulcrum of the book. Before comes the childhood with the idealism of childhood but the darkness of abuse. After, although still a child, the book jumps to the emergence into adulthood. What stands out throughout the book is the fractured relationships of this family.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2021/06/nowhere-girl.html

Reviewed for NetGalley and a publisher's blog tour.

Cheryl Diamond's storytelling is so fantastic, I had to keep reminding myself I was reading a memoir and not fiction. This story of a life spent on the run was engaging from the start and I could hardly put it down. I was completely immersed in Cheryl's story and my heart broke for her at so many points. I found the later chapters of the book especially interesting. Her resilience after her father's schemes came to their inevitable end was admirable and I was rooting for her the whole way. Just a terrific read.

“I know my father’s laws by heart, because it is what we all believe: Always be loyal to our family—for we will never betray each other. Trust no one—they are outsiders. And be a criminal—but be a noble one. These are the rules we live by. An unbreakable outlaw code.”

NOWHERE GIRL is a wild memoir about a family who lives on the run, changing names and identities and moving from place to place around the world. @cherdiamond grew up wondering what her parents’ real names were, where they might live next, and from whom exactly they were running. think THE GLASS CASTLE meets CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, and you have an idea for what this memoir is like! a must read if you enjoy memoirs! 4/5⭐️—I liked it!

Nowhere Girl is a fascinating memoir written by Cheryl Diamond, who led her childhood on the run with her parents and two older siblings. The memoir follows her childhood and young adulthood, led through more than a dozen countries. The book begins with Diamond at age 4 in India, and as her age advances, so does her understanding of her family’s dynamics and why they are constantly moving, often with little to no warning. She understands her family is on the run and using false documents, but from who? What are they running from and how do they have seemingly unlimited money? I loved how these answers are slowly teased out, and as Diamond ages, the focus becomes clearer and we understand why her family is running and the intricacies of the family’s relationships.
The most prominent character in their life, is her simultaneously charming and mercurial narcissistic father, who controls all aspects of their lives. He has lofty expectations and is rarely satisfied. This leads to sometimes contradictory decisions, despite their need to stay hidden below the radar, he pushes all his children to achieve excellence in sports like gymnastics or swimming with the goal of reaching the Olympics. With the necessity to stay hidden, their family is isolated from others, which seems to make abuse almost inevitable with no obvious way to ask for help. Though the behavior of her family could be incredibly maddening, the story was so intriguing and I just wanted to know what would happen and if she would be able to separate from her family. Diamond considers heavy questions like how do you forgive your family and can you repair dysfunctional relationships? Though some questions about her family members are left unanswered, the memoir ends on an optimistic, pensive note. I read the book and listened to the audiobook, which is fantastically narrated by Eileen Stevens.

Thank you Algonquin Books for this ARC.

It’s blog tour day for Nowhere Girl by Cheryl Diamond! Thank you to Algonquin for having me and sending me copies of this wonderful memoir. I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last. Memoirs can be a tricky thing to rate, because it can feel like you’re putting a rating on someone’s personal experiences. I find that most memoirs that I pick up, I really enjoy. There’s nothing quite like looking into another person’s life, especially when their life has been quite out of the ordinary.

There’s a few things that make a memoir great to me and a huge one is vivid storytelling. I like when you get a sense of that personal inner voice and we absolutely get that with Nowhere Girl. We follow Cheryl into adulthood from childhood. We watch her evolution from a mature, overachieving, loyal child to a grown woman reeling from the trauma she didn’t realize she was experiencing as kid. There’s a lot of heavy stuff in the book and she tells it in a way that keeps us wanting to read more. Trigger warnings for molestation by a family member, familial abuse, intense manipulation and gas-lighting. The writing is well done; intelligent and expertly crafted. There was never a boring passage or moment that I glazed over.

Cheryl lives a life by many names but it’s truly empowering to see her journey from young Harbhajan to the woman she is today. She lives with a father whose motives are all selfish but as a child, he’s her hero. She sees a man on the run from Interpol at no fault of his own, though as she gets older, the layers are pulled back. Like most children, she realizes her parents aren’t perfect, that they’re actually very flawed people. Though her situation is extreme, many can relate to the moment that you shed the childlike mentality of blissful ignorance and realize that life isn’t as stable and idyllic as you once thought. She comes to a moment of reckoning; her father stole years of stability, stole from her a place to call home. She literally has no legal home country, as her parents used fake names on her birth certificate and have spent years running around the world on forged passports. Does she go to court to try to fight for a place in the world? Is this a betrayal to her father? Will she be exiled to a country where she doesn’t know a soul, doesn’t know the language? Will she ever have a life to call her own?

Nowhere Girl is one of those books that would make an excellent movie because it’s almost unbelievable that someone went through this. It’s truly awe-inspiring that Cheryl is able to write and tell us of all these hardships that she faced with her family. She’s someone who has lived through the unthinkable and somehow keeps rising, keeps finding new ways to succeed. This is a breathtaking, honest, witty memoir and I’m glad that I had the opportunity to read it.

Very much an exciting ride through a life that most of us will never experience. Very Catch Me if You Can, it left me wondering how much was true and how much amped up a bit to sell the story. In any case, we'll probably never know and there is a lot here to chew on. I think it'll make a great book club book as the discussions could be similar to those around Educated, by Tara Westover.

I’ve read a bunch of memoirs in the last few years that all felt like they were trying to be the next “Educated.” The problem with these books is that aside from one quirk or unique aspect of the authors’ lives, there wasn’t really that much to fill a book. “Nowhere Girl” is not like that one bit. In fact, it’s clear that Cheryl Diamond could have written many books on the interesting pathways her life has taken over the years.

Diamond was born into a family that was consistently on the run for decades. Each time they fled to a different place with her two siblings, she was given a new identity to assume. Like the book jacket says, by the time she was nine, she’d lived in more than 12 different countries on five different continents. This crazy-making lifestyle (what Diamond refers to as her fugitive childhood) would have been interesting enough to fill an entire book. But it’s the family she’s surrounded by that truly makes the book fascinating. As the book progresses, the reader learns more about each family member that makes Diamond’s life even more dangerous. This grit and candidness serve as a solid way for the reader to become even more entrenched in Diamond’s life and storytelling.

My favorite aspect of this book was the pacing. It truly read like a suspenseful thriller. The reader never knows when Diamond’s luck will run out – when she’ll at last get caught from whomever the family is running from. Few memoirs read with this breathless kind of rush – but “Nowhere Girls” certainly moves at a breakneck speed.

This book would not have worked if Diamond hadn’t decided to be completely honest, brutally so at times. My only complaint of the entire book was that there was one major life event that occurred that was severely lacking on details (and ended up making me feel like I missed something important). Other than that, this compelling memoir had me captivated (and thankful for the more traditional life I’ve led!).

I’ll be recommending this memoir to anyone who wants a glimpse into a chaotic and thrilling life on the run. Hopefully, Diamond has more stories to tell in the future – I’ll definitely be reading them!

What would it be like being born into a fugitive family? Moving constantly from town to town, continent to continent. Changing names and backstories just as often. With no roots or long-term friends, would you just be a Nowhere Girl?

“I know my father’s laws by heart, because it is what we all believe: always be loyal to our family—for we will never betray each other. Trust no one—they are outsiders. And be a criminal—but be a noble one. These are the rules we live by. An unbreakable outlaw code.“

Wow, the author has lived a fascinating—yet ultimately stressful—life! It’s not all adventure and exotic locales. For Harbhajan just wants to fit in. As a blond Viking-looking Sikh, it won’t be easy. And then, after many more moves in as many years, Harbhajan’s family starts to fall apart.

Nowhere Girl is a compelling look into an unusual lifestyle. The author’s tone is perfect. Like a best friend is telling you her life story along with closely held secrets. There are many twists and turns along the way.

If you like reading memoirs and stories about interesting families, Nowhere Girl is a must read. 5 stars and a favorite!

Thanks to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

“By the age of nine, I will have lived in more than a dozen countries, on five continents, under six assumed identities.”

A memoir that pulled me in instantly, I cared about this young girl, Cheryl/Crystal/Bhajan/Harbhajan, who is on the run with her family. I feared for her, was angry with her entire family. From her controlling/abusive father, to her checked out mother, to her siblings (don't get me started on them). How can you save yourself when your entire life is a lie, you have no idea who you really are or where you come from,

** I received an electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

When I heard about this book, I was immediately intrigued by its description. It sounds like the epilogue of a fugitive story - and definitely proves the adage that truth is stranger than fiction! Crossing continents and decades, this story of a family on the run really does read like fiction with its short chapters organized by the author's age and location. It's hard to put down!

The author reveals a childhood fraught with danger - both from shadowy and more present external threats, but also no less sinister internal ones. Flitting across so many countries and continents, as the author ages, the dangers, secrets and outright lies begin to take this family over completely. Scenes tinged with warmth and genuine affection are replaced by ones bogged down by fear and distrust.

And though the book ends on a more hopeful note than I expected - especially after all the violence, stress and sickness! There are, however, a few things that I wish had a bit more clarity to them - particularly in regards to the fate of Frank, and more detail about Chiara. For a book devoted to revealing the truth, there are certainly more than a few scenes that seem to obfuscate the truth, which can make it a little muddled. But the author proves herself to be the strongest one of her family - though, obviously I would have liked more detail about the rest of them as well. And it certainly makes me curious to pick up a copy of the author's debut memoir about her life as a teenage model in NYC.

This suspenseful memoir covers a lot of territory.
“By the age of nine, I will have lived in more than a dozen countries, on five continents, under six assumed identities.”

The author grew up in an eccentric family brimming with secrets. Cheryl Diamond--as she now calls herself-- is a brilliant storyteller. The narrative voice in early chapters reveals a fragile innocence mixed with wry humor. As the narrator comes of age, her point of view expands, and her emotional life and writing style mature to grapple with tough issues. Themes include: generational trauma; PTSD; unreliable parents; family abuse; illness (Crohn’s); elite sports competition; travel; ambition; immigration. Scenes are skillfully wrought to reveal universal truths layered in with the author’s particular circumstances. Whether you’re traveling near or far this summer, pack #NowhereGirl in your bag. For fans of Eat, Pray, Love and Wild, this is a survival story like no other.

The title of this book is fitting because it’s about a girl that has moved around from place to place since a young age. The title is also a big part of why I wanted to read this book. The description captured me much like the story itself and I knew I had to read this book.

I was easily felt like I was a part of this story and the journey this young girl and her family were on. The writing was so great. I could easily imagine everything the author was describing as if I were there myself.Throughout the book, there are so many emotions and you’ll only want more.

Nowhere Girl is about a young girl and her family on the run. I couldn’t imagine having to change my identity on the spot. Nor could I imagine not being able to form bonds with people outside of my family because of the risks that come along with them. I don’t know if I’d be able to live the way their family did.

I’m a so grateful to have been a part of this blog tour and having the chance to read this book.

Thank you, Algonquin Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this arc in return for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for gifting me an ARC of this amazing memoir by Cheryl Diamond - 4,5 stars rounded up!

Cheryl's first memories are from when she was 4. At that time, her name was Harbhajan and her family consisted of her parents, her brother Frank and her sister Chiara. But that's just for now - her family is constantly on the run, changing identities, religions and locations constantly. All Harbhajan knows is that they are running from her mom's father. There is a set of rules they must obey and the most important thing is their family. Harbhjan is always treated as special - both her and Frank are strong athletes and get the best training available. She even becomes a model and writes a book about that experience. But as she gets older, she becomes more aware of the grave family dysfunction and realizes that she has no legal identity.

This is a wonderfully written memoir. Cheryl (her chosen identity) has laid out her childhood experiences in an orderly fashion as she grows older and lives in so many different areas. It's fascinating to go along to all the different locations as you read this book. We see Cheryl trying to fit in even when she knows she may be leaving soon. Her place in the family is to try and always make things okay and we see the toll that takes on her. It's amazing that her con man father treated the family like he did but it is more amazing that Cheryl has come out on the other side with such a strong character and sense of herself. With almost no formal childhood education, she is articulate, intelligent and wise - more so than most of her family members. It's heartbreaking to think that she missed out being a kid and a teenager with no worries - this book definitely will make you thankful for your own parents and childhood! In the vein of Educated and Glass Castle, this is a memoir not to be missed.

***TRIGGER WARNING: SOME TOUGH SCENES AND PARTS.***

Cheryl/Crystal/Bhajan/Harbhajan has moved from place to place from a young age. It is the title of Nowhere Girl that got me interested in the book. I thought "I wonder why she feels like Nowhere Girl, I want to find out!"

The synopsis of the book is just as gripping as the book itself. I was swept up by the journey and I really felt part of it. Cheryl's attention to detail is amazing and I felt the feelings she did as if I were there.

The memoir is so immersive, I loved it. I really got an idea of the sights and sounds of each place.

Through Nowhere Girl, a memoir of a Fugitive Childhood, you will feel fear, curiosity and everything in between. The writing style compelled me to want more and more and I sped through it.

Having to change identities at all times and obey the rules, the family and Cheryl and her brothers and sisters, Frank and Chiara, live a life of risks, new experiences and having to stick together. There are conflicts too, and some very hard parts. The conflict between Chiara and Frank is especially deep-rooted and tough.

The memoir begs the question: do you really know your family?

I have not reviewed The Glass Castle or Educated and am curious to. I have been before I knew this novel is compared to them.

Thanks to Cheryl Diamond and Algonquin Books for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

5 stars.