I'm very wary when it comes to books that derive from first-person account to pose as universal advice, especially with alternative methods of treatment being fore-fronted. Tashiyanna Noel's book proves that if someone wants to present their experience as attainable to others and their approach superior to others, it will be quite easy to find experts and sources to validate that. With self-help sector comes great responsibility and lived experience of trauma and healing often is not enough to be advising others.

This was a tough read at times and the did have to take breaks from it as it stirred up a fair bit of emotion about a situation I’ve been going through. Saying that, I also feel like it has been very helpful in reframing that situation. The journal prompts were refreshing and helped me feel closure about some things from the past. Thanks to the punisher and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy.

You Have No Right to Stay Broken is both Tashiyanna Noel's memoir and a resource on mental health. Tashiyanna shares with us her coming of age experience while healing from the developmental trauma of sexual abuse, what she's learned after more than ten years of therapy, a season of taking psychotropic medication, and several years of living intentionally to find her own peace of mind, joy, and contentment in life.

She writes to the reader: "Overall, my life is significantly more satisfying, and I wanted to share how I accomplished such satisfaction. Because I believe that when you share your abundance, your joy magnifies in various ways."

Each chapter is based on a developmental phase of life: The Formative Years; The Erracticism of Young Adulthood: How Our Younger Years Shape Us; and then all of the ways we search for love in the wrong people and places when we've never experienced the safety of a love we could trust as children.

I was heartbroken to read that Tashiyanna's mother did not believe her when she shared about the abuse she'd endured. In many ways this is the unfortunate experience of many women and girls who are blamed for the ways they've been harmed. Tashiayanna provides readers with intimate details of her healing journey and how she was able to leave a loveless marriage and turn inward back to herself to truly learn to unconditionally love and honor herself. She provides exercises, journal prompts, and guided practices throughout the book to help readers identify inner wounds and begin the healing process. If you are someone looking to learn about self-healing practices then this is a great book for you.

She writes: "To be happy, you must be at peace with yourself, not conflicted. Recognizing where you come from and who you are brings acceptance. And with acceptance comes freedom."

Thank you so much Tashiayanna for sharing your story and your testimony!