The writer's life until her mid-20's was spent on the run, living around the world using false identities. Her parents were criminals wanted by Interpol so she didn't know any different. Nor did she have an explanation until she was in her teens. She was a Sikh, Jewish, an athlete and a model. In her 20's she becomes ill as her family unravels. She describes her life in detail breaking down each chapter by age & location.

The premise sounded so interesting to me but alas, I just didn't like this book.
It was too long. She adds minutiae details for her childhood, yet when it gets to her 20's, it is spotty & rushed w/some details left out. She touches on her previous book "Model" which is in direct conflict to things mentioned in that book. I also wanted some more closure info at the end on some of the people in her life.

I felt no empathy for her family. I mean, ok, Harbhajan/Crystal/Cheryl was an innocent victim so you do feel bad for her. But to be honest, I didn't feel that way until towards the end.
Her father is insane. Her mom had issues. Her siblings are severely disturbed.
And a lot of the details seemed just so unbelievable & bizarre.
For exs., they were supposed to be staying under the radar yet they stuck out in their "uniqueness" as well as their father wanting them to be Olympic athletes & models.

I will say that I'm glad she was able to make peace with some of her relatives. She was also able to start resolving her issues such as her illness, feelings & childhood.

I did learn some interesting facts.
For exs., if she had gone to an embassy as a minor, she wouldn't have been held accountable for her parents actions. But as they used false ID's on her birth certificate, she technically didn't exist. Who knew!
It was a long battle for her to actually be declared a citizen of a specific country in order to get a passport. I didn't realize that was a thing.

Thank you, Edelweiss, for an e-ARC of Nowhere Girl by Cheryl Diamond.
Nowhere Girl is Cheryl Diamond's memoir, a story of a family in crisis running from the law. Being compared to Glass Castles and Uneducated, this book does not disappoint. From the opening scene of a car hurtling down the Himalayan Mountains to the conclusion, this book keeps the reader engaged and wondering how someone survives this lifestyle. As any well-written memoir should, this book made me empathetic for Cheryl and the life she lived.

Cheryl Diamond did not have a traditional childhood. Her family traveled the globe, not staying in one place for very long, on the run from Interpol. She lived under different names and learned different languages while constantly adapting to new situations. She makes few friends and doesn't get to experience most traditional childhood rites of passage like attending regular schools, eating sugar, and staying in one place long enough to build community.

Diamond definitely did live an interesting life, enduring things no child should have to endure and a controlling father. Her story reads like a stream of consciousness and is at times hard to follow, especially in the beginning where there is no real introduction.

I received an ARC of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What a wild ride! This is a compelling story of the ultimate dysfunctional family. At times it put me in mind of The Glass Castle but with criminals not just backward parents. You really want to root for Bhajan and many parts of this book are disturbing. A loss of innocence, a clan of crime, more adventures than you can count.

Wow! This was an amazing story. I started it and either forgot or overlooked that it was a memoir and was amazed at the imagination of the author. When I realized it was true I was even more amazed. Parts were very funny and other parts were sad, even brutal and unbelievable. It’s hard to believe that someone survived and in some ways thrived in such dysfunction.. Cheryl Diamond has led an incredible life. Fortunately she is a survivor and a wonderful writer who held me spellbound throughout her amazing story. I couldn’t put this book down. I recommend it for anyone who wants to read a well written book with a different story that is hilarious in places and horrifying in others. Thank you so much Nat Gallery for this ARC.

What draws the reader in is the unbelievable premise that a family could effectively "disappear" for over 30 years without a trace. How does a child learn to assume new identities? Where does the money come from for new identification in each country they live in? How are they able to not leave a trail of some sort? Following the childhood of Cheryl Diamond (her current name) gives the reader insight into how a controlling and paranoid parent can ruin the lives of innocent family members. Young Cheryl learns early on to never cross her father, protect her mother and wonder about the relationship between herself and her siblings and the often volatile relationship between them. Raised to be the perfect high achieving child, Crystal tries to be the glue that keeps the family together, even when it becomes apparent that the family dynamic is beyond repair. As an adult, Cheryl Diamond conveys to the reader the difficulty of trying to establish herself as a legal entity when every document that bears her name is false. We have sympathy for the child, cheer for the rebellious adolescent and rejoice with the adult she has become. A thoroughly engaging read.

This book is reminiscent of The Glass Castle, in that it's the story of a young girl growing up in unusual circumstances with a charismatic and megalomaniacal father. She lived through some fascinating adventures as well as some very painful misadventures. Driven to be exceptional, in part by her parents and in part by her innate personality, she was a high achiever, despite the chaos in her home life. It was interesting to read her story and see how she came to terms with it as she tried to move into independence and adulthood. Would recommend.
3 - 3.5 stars

This memoir is fascinating and borders on unbelievable. Cheryl Diamond lived life in her family of five on the run - she believed from INterpol and the maternal grandfather who had pointed the police at her father. Tales of fake passports, international flight, family disfunction, and personal fill outline the narrative and provide the background for a story that almost feels fictional. I wish details on what became of other members of the immediate family were provided, but I suspect they would not be divulged.

Compelling--I read the whole thing in one sitting. Comparisons to The Glass Castle are apt but with international flair!
This is a fair review in exchange for an advanced reader copy via Net Galley.

Cheryl Diamond has a unique childhood, with a family which lives everywhere and nowhere. Her father is a conniving, brilliant investor who makes sure his family conforms to his assumed identities, and treats them like followers rather than family. This family is from Canada, but moves to India, Cyprus, Germany and the United States by the time Cheryl ( Harbajan) is 13. A fascinating read.