This was not an easy read, but it was a very important one. I have not struggled with addiction and this book opened up a new world for me and helped me become more empathetic to those who struggle with them.

I recommend this book!

I am grateful to NetGalley and Greenleaf Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Liz Long deserves much credit for her honesty in laying bare the ‘shitstorm’ that her life has been for nearly twenty years—not one big storm, which remarkably doesn’t kill you however much the suffering, but a series in short order that leave you no time to pull yourself together in between. Even if the details differ in what readers have endured compared to her lot, much of what she reveals is relatable. If you live long enough, you get to pass through things big and small that you hope never to confront again. While Long tells a very intimate and personal tale, including the unbelievable
story of her sister’s murder that resulted in the longest court case ever in Canada, readers will find that it resonates. She describes victimization and recovery as two ‘towns’ that we all visit, how to cope with what goes on there, and, most important, how to make your way out with enough ‘you’ left to get better. And all in very readable, understandable terms. Most of us need a book like this.

Not for me. We've all got problems and most of us are smart enough to see them resolved. This did not provide any new information nor evoke any interest in reading to the end.

Shit happens to us all, at some point in our lives, often more than once or twice. It’s how we learn to deal with life that determines how we live.
This book is someone’s journey, someone’s guide and perhaps, someone’s way forward, to navigate through the shit!
A well written, honest account of responding to emotional distress, considering how we process our thoughts and actions and also understanding other’s approach to dealing with what life throws at them.

Thanks so much to the publisher, NetGalley and the very brave author for the opportunity to read this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a self help book I plan to buy. Liz Long writes a very relatable, very visual story about her journey with depression and learning to unpack her baggage at "The Place." When I was reading the book I was imagining my own version of Victimtown and what kinds of places would be in it. I appreciated the humor of the names of places and the metaphors such as filling up at the anger fueling station and the Resentment parking lot.

I want to explore this book more deeply and will be purchasing it when it is published.

My thanks to Greenleaf Book Group Press and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

I needed to read this book. Not because I have to fill some non-fiction quota this month in my reads but rather because I have been navigating a shitstorm of my own these nineteen months. That's a fact. I am not looking for pity. This book resonated deeply and I don't think I was quite finished with the book before the deep sobs and tear-stained face started. Liz, I don't want to stay in victim town or in the anger parking lot but it's a struggle when the grief is so deep.

Liz Long shares her own personal story and weaves in how that experience has made her reflect. It is not preachy or condescending. There's a validation to our own feelings while Liz also encourages us that we do need to find our way to the other side. The writing almost feels like we are sitting on a park bench, sipping coffees and she is speaking quietly to me while I dry my tears. So yeah, future readers can expect to find a lot of raw emotion within the walls of this book.

The chapters are easy to follow and the sections are broken up for when a reader needs to take a break and gather their emotions.

I know this one is not out until August but I want to create some buzz for a book that I believe could help a lot of people.

#NavigatingShitstorms #NetGalley
Expected Publication 01/08/23
Goodreads Review 26/06/23

I really liked the raw emotion coming from Liz and how she navigated through the struggles. She was honest that helped you keep your eyes open and aware of what is happening. Within her writing of her personal story, she provides skills and advice that helped her. It was a good book

Navigating Shitstorms
How to Find Your True Path When Life Gets Rough
by Liz Long
I LOVED the book, and how it felt in the writing. It truly will be read and used often. I told my therapist about this book, and she was wanting to get it.I said, not published yet, in August you can buy it. It will be one to refer everyone to.

This book had a nice balance between an interesting memoir style of writing and more practical implementable information. It was very well organized and easy to read. I liked that it was broken down into parts and within the parts there were short chapters with even shorter sections. I found it easy to keep reading knowing that I wasn't committing to a big long section each time I chose to keep going.

*** Thank you to Netgalley, Liz Long, and Greenleaf Book Group for the ARC***
Release Date: 08.01.2023

As someone who has lived with depression all my life, I was immediately drawn to this book; by title alone. I am always looking for more ways to cope, to preserver and knowledge to share.

This book is great at breaking down the many stages/feelings that accompany depression, grief, etc. I loved that it’s in layman’s terms, and the “laugh out loud” experiences Liz has encountered.

Thank you again for a wonderful book, that I will be recommending to friends and family!!

*** Thank you to Netgalley, Liz Long, and Greenleaf Book Group for the ARC***
Release Date: 08.01.2023

We all have shit happen in our lives. Some of us handle it better than other. I handle every bad thing that comes my way horribly – I internalize it all and eventually blow up. I used to go to therapy to discuss my issues but I never got down to the reason why it was happening – just talking in real time about said issues. Therapy helped but I never learned anything about myself. I started Navigating Shitstorms as a way to hopefully do some reflection and see if that would help in addition to talking about my feelings.
Childhood: the start of everyone’s trauma. Liz starts by going into her own childhood before throwing psychology at you. I assumed my childhood was well, but I, as a millennial went through so many devastating world events starting with 9/11 at 8 years old and boy, the trauma just kept rolling after that – not only globally but also within my own family. I too, like Liz, took the approach of learning how to not rely on anyone for anything.
Victimtown: (with a great picture / info graph) – Everyone is a victim to something at some time. It just depends on how you handle the situation. As Liz said, and this will probably stick with me forever, “All victims are not created equal”. There are some who want to remain a victim forever and thrive on that attention. There are others who want to get past this stressor and move on with their life. There is no right or wrong, but learning about Victimtown, it is important to realize the vast ways many handle being the victim. The rest of the book breaks down all the “landmarks” of Victim town.
Liz, I am sorry for all that has happened to you in your life. Every passing chapter I felt my eyes getting wider and wider and I am impressed with how much you have overcome. Taking all that you have bestowed on myself in this book, I think I can now make more conscious decisions on handling the stressors in my life before letting them snowball and become a giant freaking problem.